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Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2009  witii  funding  from 

Princeton  Tlieological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.arcliive.org/details/briefmemoirofrevOOdimm 


A  BRIEF  MEMOIR 

OF 

J       ' 

EEV.  PAUL   COUCH: 

AN  UNUSUAL  SUFFERER. 


BY  KEV.  L.  F.  DIMMICK,  D.  D,, 

PASIOK   OP   THE   NORTH   CHURCH,   NEWBURYPOBT. 


"Who  best 
Bear  His  mild  yoke,  they  serve  Him  best." 

Milton^  Sonnets,  idx. 


NEWBURYPORT  : 
MOULTON  &  CLARK,  29  MARKET  SQUARK 

Newburyport  Herald  Press— 3  State  st, 

1858. 


"'  Charteris,  [a  Scotch  divine,]  lived  to  a  great  age,  and 
died  in  the  end  of  the  year  1700,  having  in  his  last  years 
suffered  unspeakable  torment  from  the  stone,  which  the 
operators  would  not  venture  to  cut.    But  all  that  saw 

WHAT  HE  SUFFERED,  AND  HOW  HE  BORE  IT,  ACKNOW- 
LEDGED THAT  IN  HIM  THEY  SAW  A  MOST  PERFECT  PAT- 
TERN OF  PATIENCE  AND   SUBMISSION  TO  THE  WILL  OP 

OOD."  —  Bp.  Burnet. 


BRIEF  MEMOIR,  &c. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"  I  "Will  show  him  how  great  things  he  must  suffer  for 
my  name's  sake.  * — Acts  9:16. 

A  Human  Life,  well  begun,  well  con- 
ducted, and  well  closed,  is  the  noblest  thing 
below  the  skies.  It  matters  not  so  much  as 
is  sometimes  imagined,  in  what  particular 
line  of  duty  that  life  is  employed.  He  that 
sweeps  the  street  may  be  as  worthy  of  honor 
as  he  who  guides  the  state.  He  that  suffers 
the  will  of  God,  bearjng  calamities  rightly, 
may  be  as  deserving  of  commendation,  and 
as  useful  in  the  scene  of  things  of  which  he 
forms  a  part,  as  he  who  does  the  highest 
exploits  in  active  service. 

The  USES  of  suffering,  in  the  economy  of 
the  world,  are  often  not  duly  considered. 


6  MEMOIR  OF 

The  objects  to  be  accomplished  by  suffering 
are  probably  quite  as  great  and  as  valuable 
as  those  which  are  to  be  accomplished  by 
action. 

The  sufferer  himself,  who  suffers  rightly, 
is  always  benefited  by  what  he  endures. 
Even  of  the  greatest  Sufferer  the  world  has 
ever  seen — the  world's  Redeemer — it  is  said 
that  he  "  learned  obedience  by  the  things 
which  he  suffered ;"  and  again,  that  it  be- 
came the  Infinite  One,  ''  in  bringing  many 
sons  unto  glory,  to  make  the  Captain  of 
their  salvation  perfect  through  sufferings.'* 
In  such  respects  as  the  Humanity  of  the 
Redeemer  could  receive  maturing,  and 
strength,  and  qualification  for  his  great 
work  —  in  such  respects  as  he  could  be 
brought  to  have  a  deeper  sympathy  with 
his  people  in  their^  wants  and  trials  —  a 
greater  adaptedness  to  their  nature  and 
condition,  and  many  branches  of  the  work 
he  was  to  perform  for  them — this  object  was 
accomplished,  extensively,  by  his  sufferings. 
"  Touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmi- 
ties/' it  is  said  ;  and  the  more  as  he  "  was 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  T 

in  all  points  tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet 
without  sin.'^ 

In  this  he  was,  in  an  important  sense,  an 
example  for  his  people  ;  an  illustration,  in- 
deed, of  a  process  which  is  still  more  appro* 
priate  —  and  even  necessar}^  —  in  regard  to- 
them.  Human  nature,  in  its  sinful,  rugged 
and  wayward  state,  could  hardly  be  expect- 
ed to  be  subdued,  reclaimed,  purified,  and 
raised  up  to  a  life  of  holiness  and  meetness 
for  heaven,  without  a  discipline  made  up,  in 
part,  at  least,  of  suffering.  And  very  man- 
fest  it  is,  in  the  experience  of  the  church, 
that  some  of  the  choicest  affections  that 
even  a  sanctified  humanity  ever  exhibits, — 
some  of  the  finest,  purest,  and  most  impress- 
ive developements  it  ever  makes,  —  are, 
through  grace,  produced  by  processes  of  suf- 
ering ;  as  *'  the  crushed  flower  gives  forth 
the  sweetest  fragrance."  Such  is  the  law. 
God  "  chastens  us  for  our  profit,  that  we 
may  be  partakers  of  his  holiness." 

There  is  a  public  benefit,  also,  from  suf- 
fering, as  well  as  a  private.  Most  eminently 
was  this  the  case  in  respect  to  the  Savior. 


?  MEMOIR  OP 

He  suffered,  indeed,  as  no  one  of  his  disci- 
ples, and  no  other  being  but  Himself,  can 
suffer.  He  suffered  as  an  Atoning  Sacrifice 
for  the  sins  of  men.  He  ''  bare  our  sins  in 
his  own  body  on  the  tree.*'  He  ''gave  him- 
self a  ransom  for  all."  He  was  "  the  Lamb 
of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  ?in  of  the 
■world.''  In  this  his  great  work  —  the  chief 
work  for  which  he  came  into  the  world  — 
no  one  can  have  a  share  with  him.  It  is  his 
Alone. 

But  besides  this,  there  is  a  public  benefit 
from  his  sufferings,  in  which  his  people  can 
bear  some  resemblance  to  him.  In  his  suf- 
ferings shine  with  special  effulgence,  some 
of  the  brightest  features  of  a  perfect  holi- 
ness. His  resignation,  his  patience,  his  for- 
giveness of  injuries,  his  prayer  for  his  mur- 
derers, and,  in  general,  his  meekness  and 
fortitude  amidst  the  contradictions  he  met 
with,  and  amidst  the  waves  of  sorrow  that 
rolled  over  him,  —  these  things  are  an  exam- 
ple for  all  time.  They  are  a  great  means  of 
teaching  the  world  many  of  the  prime  ele- 
ments of  a  true  godliness.    Take  away  the 


REV.  PAUL  COTJCH.  9 

Life  of  Christ,  and  leave  only  his  naked 
teachings,  and  the  gospel  is  deprived  of  no 
small  part  of  its  power  to  impress  and  move 
men.  And  a  large  share  of  the  power  of 
the  Life  of  Christ  is  contained  in  the  suf- 
ferings it  included. 

And  in  this  aspect  of  the  case,  disciples 
have  responsibility,  as  well  as  Christ  him- 
self. As  an  apostle  has  expressed  it  :— 
*^'  Christ  also  suffered  for  us,  leaving  us  an 
example,  that  ye  should  follow  his  steps." 
And  another  apostle,  in  still  stronger 
terms  : — "  Who  now  rejoice  in  my  suffer- 
ings for  you,  and  fill  up  that  which  is 

BEHIND    OF   THE   AFFLICTIONS    OF    ChRIST,    in 

my  flesh,  for  his  body's  sake,  which  is  the 
church.''  Even  the  sufferings  of  Christ  did 
not  constitute  the  whole  amount  of  suffering 
needful  for  the  church's  welfare  —  needful 
for  the  illustration  of  truth,  and  the  power 
of  grace  —  needful  for  the  carrying  out  of 
the  gospel  to  its  designed  consummation. 
There  are  the  kft  behind,  things  lacking,  to 
be  done  by  his  disciples.  Resignation,  and 
patience,  and  forgiveness  of  injuries,  and 


10  MEMOIR  OP 

prayer  for  enemies,  and.  in  general,  meek 
ness  and  fortitude  amidst  contradictions  and 
burdens  of  sorrow  —  sometimes  heavy  and 
long  continued  scenes  of  anguish  and  pain  — 
these  are  to  be  acted  over  again,  in  all  times 
and  all  places,  for  the  church's  benefit  and 
the  world's  benefit.  And  in  very  few 
ways  do  the  disciples  of  Christ  honor 
religion  more,  than  by  imitating  their 
great  Master  in  his  example  of  suff'ering. 
The  Martyrs  are  to  be  put  in  this  category. 
A  light  has  come  down  from  their  sufferings, 
which  they  could  have  transmitted  in  no 
other  way  ;  in  many  respects,  the  brightest 
light  of  those  early  times.  And  so  a  light 
shines  forth  at  this  day,  from  many  a  cham- 
ber of  sickness ;  from  many  an  instance  of 
heroic  endurance  of  protracted  and  heavy 
calamity  ;  from  many  a  triumphant  dying 
bed,  —  a  light  of  the  highest  consequence  to 
the  life  and  power  of  religion  among  men. 
It  strongly  arrests  attention,  and  produces 
a  deep  and  wide-spread  impression,  favoring 
truth,  and  righteousness,  and  human  salva- 
tion.   The  sufferers  in  the  kingdom  of  God, 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  11 

therefore,  perforin  a  work,  who  can  say,  of 
any  less  value,  or  moment,  than  the  actors 
in  the  kingdom  of  God  ?  Perhaps  it  is  a 
more  difficult  service  to  render  :  but  for  this 
very  reason,  when  rightly  rendered,  it  may 
possess  some  peculiar  preciousness  in  the 
sight  of  God,  and  receive  from  Him  some 
peculiar  recompense  in  the  day  when  His 
awards  are  given. 

To  the  former  class  —  the  sufferers  —  be- 
longed the  individual,  whose  case  we  are 
now  briefly  to  consider.  —  And  there  is  the 
more  appropriateness  in  introducing  the 
foregoing  remarks  in  regard  to  suffering,  in 
this  place,  as  they  are  expressive  of  that 
view  of  the  subject,  which  was  ever  very 
prominent  with  him  ;  and  from  which  he 
derived  great  consolation  and  support  under 
the  many  severe  pains  appointed  him,  and 
heavy  burdens  laid  upon  him.  To  use,  sub- 
stantially, his  own  language  ;  why  should 
not  some  be  appointed  to  suffer  for  the  gen- 
eral good,  as  well  as  some  appointed  to  act 
for  the  general  good  ?  Why  should  not 
suffering  have  its  use,  on  the  broad  and 


12  MEMOIR  OP 

general  scale,  as  well  as  action  ?  And 
when  he  took  this  view  of  himself  as  a  suf- 
ferer, he  was  comforted,  and  aided  in  bear- 
ing his  burdens. 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  18 


CHAPTER  II. 

"  And  that  from  a  child  thou  hast  known  the  Holy 
Scriptores."— 2  Tim.  3  :  15. 

Paul  Couch  was  born  in  Newburyport, 
(Mass.,)  September  23rd,  1777.  His  parents 
were  Joseph  and  Mary  Couch,  worthy  citi- 
zens of  the  place.  He  was  the  third  of  ten 
children. 

When  an  individual,  in  subsequent  life, 
becomes  distinguished  in  any  way,  we  in- 
quire with  special  interest  in  regard  to  his 
childhood  and  youth,  looking  to  see  a  com- 
mencement marked  with  features  foreshad- 
owing what  is  to  come.  Of  the  early  life 
of  Mr.  Couch,  little  is  known  of  a  specially 
remarkable  character.  Yet  some  things  it 
presents  not  unworthy  of  mention.  He  be- 
gan life  with  an  unusual  degree  of  buoyancy 
and  energy.  A  friend,  writing  of  him,  says: 
"  His  boyhood  I  well  remember,  having  been 


14  MEMOIR  OF 

a  schoolmate  with  him.  He  possessed  a 
warm  and  ardent  temperament ;  was  full  of 
energy  and  sprightliness  ;  but  was  ever  kind 
and  obliging  :  and,  what  may  be  specially 
noticed  to  his  praise,  was  not  addicted  to 
any  profane  or  improper  language,  or  any 
immoral  behavior.  His  temper  and  man- 
ners," continues  this  friend,  "  obtained  for 
him  influence  among  his  associates,  and  did 
not  a  little  to  impart  a  tone  of  thought  and 
feeling  to  the  circle  in  which  he  moved." 
The  bold,  strong  features  of  his  character 
made  him  a  sort  of  leader  among  those  of 
his  age. 

Young  Couch's  early  advantages  for  edu- 
cation were  only  those  afforded  by  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  town,  which, 
though  very  good  for  that  day,  were  yet 
much  behind  what  are  now  enjoyed  through 
the  improvements  introduced  into  the  public 
school  system.  Still  a  mind  like  his  could 
hardly  fail  to  make  good  proficiency.  He 
was  brought  up,  too,  in  a  sober  and  religious 
community,  and  received  not  a  little  relig- 
ious instruction.    His  parents,  though  not 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  15 

members  of  the  church  of  Christ,  were  yet 
friends  of  good  order  ;  connected  them- 
selves and  family  with  the  public  worship 
of  God,  and  retained  and  cherished  in  their 
house  many  influences  from  the  Bible  and  its 
ordinances.  And  from  a  child  this  son 
seems  to  have  been  a  subject  of  occasional 
religious  impressions. 

At  a  suitable  age,  young  Couch  was  ap- 
prenticed to  the  trade  of  a  house-carpenter. 
While  an  apprentice,  he  became  hopefully 
pious  ;  though  he  did  not  make  a  public 
profession  of  religion  till  1799,  when  he 
was  twenty-two  years  of  age  :  uniting  then 
with  the  4th  church  in  his  native  town, 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Charles  W. 
Milton. 

Mr.  Couch's  early  religious  experience  is 
presented  in  the  following  brief  Narrative 
from  his  own  hand,  read  to  the  church  at 
the  time  of  his  admission  as  a  member. 
Such  was  the  practice. 


16  MEMOIR    OF 

"  To  THE  Independent  Calvinist  Church 
IN  Newburyport  : — 

"  Sirs  :  —  Counting  it  a  high  privilege 
and  duty  of  all  the  adopted  children  of  God 
to  join  some  branch  of  His  cnurch  militant 
on  earth,  in  order  to  partake  with  them  of 
the  mutual  intercourse  in  the  ordinance  of 
the  Lord's  Supper,  and  keep  up  a  remem- 
brance of  Christ,  and  hoping  the  Lord  has 
done  one  of  his  greatest  works  for  me,  I 
would,  after  mentioning  some  part  of  what 
I  humbly  trust  have  been  his  dealings  with 
my  soul,  offer  myself  to  your  charitable 
acceptance. 

"When  going  on  careless  and  unconcerned 
in  the  sports  of  giddy  youth,  I  was,  at  about 
the  age  of  13  years,  much  affected  with  cer- 
tain words  of  the  Psalmist.  My  feelings  I 
cannot  well  describe.  The  pangs  were 
keen,  but  short.  They  soon  wore  off,  and  I 
returned  to  my  former  practice,  flattering 
myself  that  if  I  lifted  up  a  cry  to  God  in 
my  old  age,  or  on  a  dying  bed,  he  would 
save  me,  because  I  was  not  so  bad  as  some 
others.     Some  time  after  this,  I  was  visited 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  17 

with  sickness,  and  brought  apparently  to 
death's  door.  But  though,  through  the  sig- 
nal mercy  of  God,  I  recovered,  I  thought 
not  on  his  kindness,  but  still  went  on  in  my 
sinful  and  rebellious  course.  But  not  long 
after,  having  my  eyes  opened  in  some  mea- 
sure, I  saw  what  an  awful  sinner  I  had  been. 
I  saw  that  I  was  justly  condemned,  and  that 
if  I  died  in  this  condition,  I  was  undone  for 
ever.  I  betook  myself  to  duties  to  recom- 
mend me  to  God  and  gain  his  favor.  Hav- 
ing proceeded  some  time  thus,  I  thought 
God  was  under  obligation  to  save  me.  But 
soon  after,  having  the  enmity  of  my  heart 
and  corruption  of  my  nature  discovered  to 
me,  I  found  all  the  duties  I  had  done  were 
defective.  They  were  not  of  love  :  but  sin 
still  reigned  in  my  soul.  Being  thus  cut  off 
from  all  hope,  I  knew  not  what  to  do,  but 
lay  trembling  as  before  the  jaws  of  death 
and  hell,  which  seemed  opened  to  receiva 
me.  Beins;  commanded  to  look  to  Christ 
and  believe  on  him,  I  think  I  was,  by  expe- 
rience, convinced  that  I  could  help  myself 
no  more  by  the  Gospel,  than  by  the  Law, 
2 


18  MEMOIR  OF 

No  tongue  can  tell  the  distress  I  was  now 
in.  Thoiigli  hell  was  not  the  place  of  my 
residence,  vet  it  seemed  to  move  before  me, 
and  towards  me.  And  0  the  torments  of 
my  awakened  conscience  !  Will  the  excru- 
ciating pains  of  a  man  on  the  rack  serve  as 
a  comparison?  Methinks  the  latter  is  to 
the  former,  as  the  shadow  to  the  substance. 
But  though  my  state  was  thus  forlorn,  yet  I 
was  convinced  from  the  word  of  God,  that 
Christ  was  able  to  save  me,  if  he  would  :  for 
he  ''  qukkeneth  whom  he  wilL'''  Now  my 
anxiety  was  great  to  get  an  interest  in 
Christ,  though  I  doubted  much  his  willing- 
ness to  save  me,  because  I  was  so  great  a 
Binner.  Yet  I  could  not  help  crying,  '•  Mer- 
cy, Lord,  for  thine  own  sake !"  thus  contin- 
uing to  plead  at  the  footstool  of  sovereign 
grace.  I  was  at  last  almost  driven  to  de- 
spair. In  this  state,  I  felt  myself  moved  to 
go  to  the  Bible  :  which  I  took,  and  opened, 
and  cast  my  eyes  on  these  words,  in  the  2d 
chapter  of  Hosea,  20th  verse,  "  I  will  even 
betroth  thee  unto  me  in  faithfulness ;  and 
thou  shalt  know  the  Lord."    These  words 


EEY.  PAUL  COUCH.  19 

came  to  me,  I  trust,  with  the  sweet  con- 
straining power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  I  felt 
transported  at  the  thought  of  knowing  God, 
and  ray  whole  soul  was  filled  with  joy  and 
praise.  Since  then,  I  have  been  down  and 
up,  sometimes  doubting  whether  I  was 
united  to  the  blessed  Jesus,  and  sometimes 
fearing  the  Lord  would  leave  and  foivake 
me.  But.  thanks  be  to  God,  he  has,  1  hope, 
now  and  then  caused  his  blessed  Spirit  to 
visit  me,  to  exert  his  influences  upon  my 
spirit,  and  bring  his  precious  word  and  pro- 
mises to  my  remembrance  ;  so  that  ir.  has 
caused  my  hard  heart,  in  some  measure,  as  I 
hope,  to  gush  out  in  streams  of  love  and  de- 
sires towards  him.  And  now  I  think  1  can 
say,  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  tliat, 
"  whereas  I  was  once  blind,  now  I  see  "  a 
little.     ''  My  hope  is  in  Christ." 

Paul  Couch. 

Mr.  Couch's  religion  did  not  lead  him  to 
undervalue  his  secular  duties,  but  mude  him 
more  attentive  to  all  their  claims  upon  him. 
"In  his  labors  and  business,"  says  the  Irlend 


20  MEMOIR  OF 

before  quoted,  "  he  was  remarkably  indus- 
trious, upright,  conscieatious,  and  faithful  to 
his  employers,  and  was  esteemed  a  good 
workman  at  his  trade/' 

Even  before  his  connexion  with  the  church, 
however,  and  before  the  close  of  his  appren- 
ticeship, the  natural  ardor  of  his  character 
began  strikingly  to  manifest  itself  in  the 
new  direction  whkh  his  thoughts  and  feel- 
ings hxtd-tKTW  assumed  —  in  the  new  life  he 
had  now  begun  to  live.  A  young  convert, 
he  was  at  once  very  earnest  and  active  in 
the  services  of  religion,  and,  especially,  ere- 
long, in  exhortations  and  prayers  in  small 
religious  meetings.  As  a  good  lady,  who 
had  well  known  him,  expressed  it  :  "  He 
was  an  independent,  sprightly,  high-spirited 
youth  ;  and  when  he  was  converted,  he  turn- 
ed it  all  into  religion." 

"  The  Great  Reformation,''  as  it  has  been 
called,  which  occurred  in  the  place  about 
the  time  now  mentioned,  was  a  scene  in 
which  Mr.  Couch  took  a  very  active  part. 

The  year  1800,  with  portions  of  the  sub- 
iequent  year,  is  referred  to  frequently  by 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  21 

some  of  our  aged  Christians,  as  a  very  re- 
markable time  for  the  outpouring  of  God's 
Spirit  ou  this  community.  Numbers,  still 
with  us,  trace  their  first  religious  impres- 
Bions  and  the  beginning  of  their  hopes,  to 
that  period.  Some  of  the  churches,  as  ap- 
pears from  their  records,  received  then,  and 
shortly  afterwards,  very  great  accessions  to 
their  numbers.  And  among  the  instruments 
in  promoting  this  work,  none  were  more 
conspicuous  than  Mr.  Couch.  Some  speak 
of  his  labors  particularly  as  the  means 
blessed  to  their  spiritual  welfare.  His  zeal 
knew  no  bounds.  While  engaged  daily  in 
his  ordinary  occupation,  he  was  accustomed, 
at  this  period,  to  rise  early,  and  commence 
labor  before  the  usual  hour,  that  he  might 
gain  time  for  religious  services  and  meet- 
ings, the  after  part,  or  evening  of  the  day. 
That  he  might  better  qualify  himself  for 
these  religious  services,  he  was  much  en- 
gaged in  the  study  of  the  Scriptures.  Ho 
was  accustomed  frequently  to  have  his  Bible 
open  before  him  while  at  his  work,  that  he 
might  cast  his  eye  often  upon  its   sacred 


22  MEMOIR  OF 

pajro.  and  render  himself  more  familiar  with 
its  truth.  Sometimes  particular  passages, 
written  or  printed,  were  tacked  up  on  some 
post,  or  other  conspicuous  place,  near  his 
work  bench,  that  he  might  be  aided  thus  in 
committing-  them  to  memory,  or  acquiring  a 
fulloi-  understanding  of  their  import.  All 
this  was  done,  not  only  because  he  loved 
the  truth,  but  with  the  further  view,  that  he 
migiit  bo  more  effective  and  useful  as  an  ex- 
horter  at  the  religious  meetings  which  it 
was  !io\v  his  passion  to  attend.* 

In  1797,  a  society  was  formed  by  a  few 
younu"  men,  for  religious  purposes,  of  which 
Mr.  Couch  was  one.  At  first,  it  consisted 
of  only  ^ye  members  ;  afterwards  of  more, 


*  It  is  remarkable  how  knowledge  is  often  sought,  and 
obtained,  amidst  difficulties.  Iloger  Sherman  was  accus- 
tomed to  work,  on  his  shoemaker's  bench,  with  a  book 
open  hufore  him. 

Dr.  l>ivingstone,  the  recent  distinguished  African  Mis- 
■ioiiai  V  and  Explorer,  while  in  a  factory,  in  his  youth, 
"pUctd  a  book  on  a  portion  of  the  spinning  jenny,  so 
that,''  lie  tfays,  "  I  could  ca.ch  sentence  after  sentence  as 
I  passed  at  my  work." 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  23 

reaching  at  last  the  number  of  thirteen.  It 
met  weekly  for  prayer  and  conference.  The 
members  bound  themselves  by  strict  rules, 
to  walk  uprightly  ;  to  seek  to  know  the  will 
of  God,  and  do  it ;  and  affectionately  and 
faithfully  to  watcli  over  one  another.  The 
measure  could  not  but  have  been  a  great 
assistance  to  those  engaged  in  it,  in  their 
early  attempts  to  understand  religious 
things,  and  to  live  the  religious  life. 

In  this  societv  oricrinated  some  schemes  of 
benevolence,  which,  long  after,  were  of  ben- 
efit to  the  place.  Particularly,  says  the 
friend  repeatedly  quoted,  "  here  originated 
the  first  efficient  movement  for  the  instruc- 
tion and  improvement  of  the  colored  popu- 
lation in  and  about  the  town.  Means  were 
solicited  and  obtained,  to  establish  a  school 
for  the  colored  children,  and  a  regular  Sab- 
bath evening  meeting  for  the  adults.  A 
colored  schoolmaster  was  procured  ;  a  build- 
ing purchased,  and  removed  to  an  appropri- 
ate location  ;  and  for  several  years,  a  grant 
was  obtained  from  the  town  to  support  the 
institution.  —  It  was  here,''  continues  the 


24  MEMOIR    OP 

narrator,  "  that  we  ourselves  learned  to  feel 
more  than  we  had  ever  felt  before,  the  evil 
of  depriving  the  poor  blacks  of  instruction 
and  liberty.  We  felt  that  they  had  souls  as 
precious  as  our  own,  and  as  capable  of  being 
made  glorified  spirits,  as  we  hope  some  of 
them  have  already  realized.''  Some  other 
plans  of  beneficence  were  devised  and  car- 
ried forward  by  that  little  association  of 
young  men,  ''  by  which  aid  and  instruction 
to  the  poor  were  imparted,  both  among  the 
white  and  the  colored  people."  In  a  poor 
and  destitute  place,  some  four  miles  from 
town,  religious  meetings  were  established^ 
and  for  some  time  sustained,  and  otlier  ben- 
efactions bestowed.  In  these  things,  the 
early  mind  of  Mr.  Couch  is  manifested. 
His  mind,  indeed,  was  the  leading  mind  in 
the  origination  of  the  plans,  and  in  their 
execution. 

The  following  is  a  fuller  statement  of  the 
revival  of  religion  mentioned  in  the  forego- 
ing pages,  and  of  Mr.  Couch's  connexion 
with  it,  along  with  the  young  men  with  whom 
he  was  associated. 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  25 

"  In  the  latter  part  of  1800,'-  continues 
the  above  named  friend,  "  I  recollect  meet- 
ing Mr.  Couch  at  Stratham,  N.  H.,  where  I 
was  visiting,  and  where  there  was  then  a 
revival  ot  religion.  There  Mr.  Couch's 
heart  received  a  new  impulse  of  warm  and 
ardent  feeling,  which  he  brought  with  him 
to  his  native  town.  During  the  autumn  and 
early  part  of  the  winter  of  that  year,  Mr. 
Couch  and  his  associates  had  kept  up  meet- 
ings in  private  houses  in  Newburyport. 
And  after  his  return  from  Stratham,  he  be- 
came more  conspicuous  as  a  leader  in  such 
meetings.  A  particular  scene  on  one  of 
these  occasions,  I  can  never  forget.  It  was 
in  the  last  week  of  December,  and  I  think 
on  the  last  day  of  the  year.  On  this  occa- 
sion, the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  was  man- 
ifested in  a  very  remarkable  manner.  In 
the  course  of  the  meeting,  many  minds  be- 
came deeply  affected,  and  some  were  even 
stricken  to  the  floor.  This  proved  the  be- 
ginning, the  opening  scene,  of  an  extensive 
revival  :  one  of  the  most  powerful  of  any 
that  had  taken   place  in  that  community 


26  MEMOIR  OP 

after  the  days,  of  Wiiitefield.  It  spread 
mostly  through  the  town  :  meetings  were 
multiplied,  and  it  became  the  absorbing 
question  with  the  impenitent,  *  What  shall  I 
do  to  he  saved  V  and  among  the  Christian 
portion  of  the  community,  '  What  has  God 
wrought?'  Brother  Couch  was  a  leading 
spirit  in  all  these  movements.  He  had  a 
fluency  of  speech,  and  a  warm-hearted  zeal, 
which  greatly  interested  the  people.  Wher- 
ever he  went,  there  was  sure  to  be  a  crowd- 
ed meeting.  So  deeply  was  the  community 
moved,  that  it  became  a  serious  question, 
what  should  be  done  to  regulate  and  com- 
pose the  public  feeling.  Some  of  the  pas- 
tors and  leading  members  of  the  churches 
thought  there  were  irregularities  and  indis- 
cretions connected  with  these  scenes."  Par- 
ticularly they  objected  to  the  late  hours  to 
which  the  meetings  were  often  kept.  It 
seemed  to  them  also  that  the  young  and 
untaught  were  manifesting  too  much  for- 
wardness ;  were  assuming  to  be  instructors 
and  guides  beyond  what  their  qualifications 
fitted  them  for,  and  what  the  order  and  wel- 


REV.    PxVUL    COUCH.  27 

fare  of  the  church  would  permit.  It  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at,  that  a  young  man  cf 
Mr.  Couch's  temperament  should  have  been 
among  those  who  were  deemed  to  need  som.o 
modifying,  restraining  influence. 

"  At  length  an  arrangement  was  made  be- 
tween the  pastors  and  the  young  men,  to  this 
effect  :  that  the  meeting-houses  of  the  four 
Orthodox  societies  should  be  opened  in  ro- 
tation four  or  live  evenings  in  the  week,  and 
that  the  young  men  should  be  invited  to 
take  part  in  the  services  at  each  meeting. 
This  arrangement  was  continued  for  some 
time  :  the  pastors  occupying  the  pulpit,  and 
opening  the  services  by  prayer  and  preach- 
ing, and  the  young  men  occupying  the 
elders'  seats  below,  and  filling  up  the  last 
half  of  the  evening  with  prayer  and  exhorta- 
tion. Many  clergymen  visited  Newburyport 
during  that  period,  and  assisted  in  these 
public  services.  A  good  degree  of  harmony 
prevailed  in  the  movements,  the  young  men 
being  regarded  as  auxiliaries,  at  least,  in  the 
great  and  good  work.''* 

*0f  this  "great  revival"  some  accouut  was  given, 


2S  MEMOIR  OP 

Mr.  Couch  was  all  this  time,  notwithstand- 
ing his  many  religious  labors,  working  still 

shortly  afterwards,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Milton,  one  of  the  pas- 
tors of  the  town,  and  Mr.  Couch's  pastor,  at  the  time 
when  the  scene  occurred.  A  portion  of  that  communica- 
tion the  reader  may  be  glad  to  see  here.  "  Newburyport, 
'Oct.  U,  1801.  *  *  *  I  think  I  can  now  safely  testify 
that  we  have  had  a  glorious  revival  of  religion  in  this 
town,  especially  among  the  people  of  my  charge.  Prior 
to  this,  it  was  a  time  of  great  deadness  ;  for  though  the 
people  of  this  town  were  very  attentive  to  the  Sabbath, 
and  the  public  worship  of  God,  yet  but  little  of  the  power 
of  religion  was  experienced,  until  God  was  pleased  to 
'dispose  a  number  of  young  men,  chiefly  of  my  charge" — 
the  young  men  mentioned  above  —  "  to  open  a  number 
■of  private  meetings  in  different  parts  of  this  town  and  vi- 
cinity. The  most  remarkable  was  Jan.  15,  1801,  when, 
•after  a  number  of  petitions  had  been  fervently  presented 
to  God,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  for  the  outpouring  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  he  was  graciously  pleased  to  answer ;  for  the 
Spirit  came  down  with  invincible  power ;  so  that  a  num- 
ber of  poor  sinners  were  brought  to  solemn  consideration  ; 
they  now  saw  what  a  holy  God  they  had  offended  —  what 
■a  perfect  law  they  had  transgressed — how  just  God 
would  remain  should  he  send  them  to  hell ;  but  they  were 
not  willing  to  be  damned ;  they  therefore  cried  for  mercy. 
It  was  supposed  that  several  persons  were  savingly  chang- 
ed ;  private  Christians  were  called  in'  to  converse  and 
pray  with  them  ;  and  as  indisposition  prevented  me  from 
being  with  them,  they  called  in  the  llev.  Mr.  Boddily. 


SEV.  PAUL  COUCH.  29» 

at  his  trade   as   a  carpenter.     He  began, 
however,  in  connexion  with  these  scenes,  to 


This  meeting  lasted  all  night.  —  Jan.  16.,  I  attended  one 
of  these  private  meetings,  and  preached  from  Isa.  li :  22. 
God  evidently  was  with  us.     Some  could  not  keep  silent 
during  the  exercises,  but  frequently  cried  out  for  mercy, 
while  others  were  praising  God  for  the  sovereign  triumphs 
of  his  free  grace  ;  at  the  same  time  they  exhorted  sinners 
to  flee  to  Christ  for  salvation.     The  private  houses  were 
now  found  too  small  to  hold  the  people  :  so  great  was  the 
attention  of  distressed  souls,  that  with  the  advice  of  our 
elders  I  opened  our  meeting-house  in  the  evening.     The 
Rev.  Mr.  Boddily  addressed  the  congregation ;  one  of  the 
young  men  prayed  ;  and  I  preached  from  Prov.  xiv  :  32. 
Almighty  power  appeared  to  me  to  attend  the  word,  so 
that  it  cut  its  way  to  the  hearts  of  sinners  ;  and  then  such 
a  scene  was  exhibited  as  I  never  saw  nor  heard  before  in 
public."    He  speaks  of  some  outcries  and  demonstrations, 
of  feeling,  more  than  would  be  deemed  desirable  at  the 
present  day :  more,  indeed,  than  w«uld  have  been  chosen 
by  himself.    He  was  "  fearful  that  many  would  be  preju- 
diced against  the  revival  because  of  these"  things.    Some» 
he  says,  did  "  ascribe  the  whole  to  enthusiasm,  and  op- 
posed "  it.     "  For  these  reasons,"  he  says,  "  after  mildly 
requesting  those  that  could,  to  keep  silent  while  I  was 
preaching  and  praying,  which  in  general  they  did,  I  left 
the  whole  in  the  hands  of  God  for  him  to  take  care  of  his 
own  cause  ;  and  blessed  be  God,  I  have  no  just  cause  to 
repent." 


30  MEMOIR   OP 

query,  wbothcr  there  was  not  a  hii^her  busi- 
ness for  him  to  pursue.     And,  after  eonsul- 


He  mentions  another  scene.  "  February  10,  our  church 
observed  as  a  day  of  fasting-  and  prayer,  for  the  coatin- 
nance  of  God's  Spirit,  &c.  Rev.  Mr.  Boddily  preached 
in  the  morning  from  Johnix:  19.  In  the  afternoon  I 
preached  from  John  iii :  7,  8.  After  T  had  done,  the  out- 
cries ware  great,  indeed,  in  different  parts  of  tho  house ; 
many  were  awakened  and  converted  this  afternoon  by  the 
blessed  Spirit  of  God." 

Of  the  character  of  this  work,  Mr.  Milton  says  :  "  Those 
who  have  given  good  evidence  of  a  real  change  from  sin 
to  holiness,  ascribe  all  to  sovereign  grace  —  they  had  in 
general  a  short,  but  keen  work  of  the  law  —  they  appear 
full  of  love  to  God,  his  word  and  ordinances,  especially 
praying,  hearing,  reading,  and  singing ;  the  souls  of  sin- 
ners appear  to  them  of  great  worth,  and  in  great  danger; 
this  leads  them  to  fiCqucnt  private  prayer  meetings,  to 
pray  for  the  con  veil  io  a  of  them.  Many  of  them  have  in- 
formed me  that  they  were  brought  into  a  state  of  grace 
thus  —  they  were  brought  to  see  the  sinfulness  of  their 
lives  and  hearts,  and  here  the  fountain  of  origiuai  corrup- 
tion was  discovered— their  guilt  and  helplessness  was 
now  clearly  seen  and  felt  —  they  were  brought  to  see  the 
justice  of  God  should  he  cast  them  off  forever  —  in  fact, 
they  were  brought  to  despair  of  salvation  by  the  law  — 
they  were  brought  to  see  the  glory  and  sufficiency  of 
Christ,  as  exhibited  in  the  gospel  —  they  were  sweetly 
disposed  and  enabled  to  embrace  Jesus  Christ  for  all,  in 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  31 

tation  with  friends,  and  particularly  with 
the  late  Dr.  Spring,  on  whose  ministry  he 
about  this  time  began  to  attend,  and  seek- 
ing the  Divine  guidance,  he  determined  on 
relinquishing  his  secular  pursuits,  and  be- 
coming a  preacher  of  the  gospel. 

As  his  education  had  been  limited  ■ — only 
Buch  as  the  common  public  schools  afforded 
at  that  time — he  resolved  to  study  more, 
before  entering  upon  his  newly  chosen  w^ork. 
In  pursuance  of  this  purpose,  he  passed  sev- 
eral terms  at  Dummcr  Academy,  at  that  pe- 

order  to  grace  and  glory.  Here  is  the  foundation  on 
which  they  build,  the  atonement  and  imputed  righteous- 
ness of  Cdrist — the  complaints  of  the  awakened  were, 
their  hard  hearts,  unbtlief,  enmity,  ignorance.  They 
Bought  relief  by  reading  and  hearing  God's  word,  and  by 
prayer.  Our  meetings  were  every  night  for  some  time. 
From  the  best  information  I  can  obtain,  h  is  supposed 
that  in  tbis  town  and  vicinity,  one  hundred  and  seventy 
souls  have  been  born  again,  during  the  revi/al.  A  very 
large  number  belong  to  my  charge —  some  have  joined 
the  church  of  Christ  in  full  communion.  April  9,  w« 
had  added  to  our  church  twenty-nine,  and  Jane  24,  sev- 
enteen more:  there  have  been  additions  to  other  chuches 
in  this  town.  Thus  I  have  endeavored  to  state  facts,  as 
far  as  I  have  been  acquainted  with  this  revival." 


32  MEMOIR   OP 

riod  one  of  the  best  institutions  of  the  kind  in 
the  country.  This  accomplished,  he  studied 
theology,  first,  with  Rev.  Dr.  Woods,  then  of 
West  Newbury  ;  afterwards,  with  Rev.  Na- 
thaniel Noyes,  of  West  Newbury,  East  Par- 
ish ;  and  shortly  after,  was  licensed  by  the 
Essex  Middle,  now  Essex  North  Association, 
as  a  candidate  for  the  Christian  ministry. 
He  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  North 
Church  in  his  native  town,  whose  minister 
had  become  his  chosen  pastor,  in  1802,  when 
he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  never 
was  ordained  :  so  that  the  term  Reverend 
was  applied  to  him  only  by  courtesy  ;  a 
courtesy,  however,  well  merited. 


BEV.  PAUL  COUCH.  33 


CHAPTER  III. 

"  Whereas  it  was  in  [thy  heart  to  build  a  house  unto 
my  name,  thou  didst  well  that  it  was  in  thy  heart. — 
[I.  Kings,  viii :  18. 

Mr.  Couch,  after  being  licensed,  preached, 
occasionally,  in  several  of  the  churches  in 
his  native  place,  and  vicinity,  for  a  short 
time  :  and  in  1803,  received  a  commission 
from  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society, 
to  labor  as  a  missionary  in  the  State  (then 
Province)  of  Maine.  Canaan,  and  the  sur- 
rounding region,  on  the  Kennebec  river,  in 
Somerset  county,  was  the  chief  scene  of  his 
labors ;  though  those  labors  extended  some- 
times farther  east,  even  to  the  Penobscot 
river. 

In  this  new  sphere,  Mr.  Couch  addressed 
himself  to  his  duties  with  his  characteristic 
ardor.  He  never  knew  how  to  be  at  rest. 
And  now,  having  found  the  business,  which, 

a 


34  MEMOIR  OP 

above  all  others,  he  loved,  he  gave  himself 
to  it  with  all  his  heart.  In  the  summer  of 
the  above  mentioned  year,  he  wrote  to  his 
employers  :  "  I  have  been  engaged  19  weeks 
in  the  service  of  the  Massachusetts  Mission- 
ary Society.  Rode  706  miles.  Preached 
116  sermons.  Made  68  family  visits.  At- 
tended 2  funerals.  Visited  7  sick  persons. 
Attended  4  conferences,  and  2  church  meet- 
ings. Received  7  dolls,  and  50  cents,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Society.  I  have  endeavor- 
ed to  do  what  I  could  to  promote  the  be- 
nevolent objects  of  the  Society,  and  thereby 
advance  the  glorious  cause  of  Christ."  — 
Mass.  Miss.  Mag.  vol.  ii.  p.  101. 

His  labors  appear  to  have  been  well  re- 
ceived, and  to  have  made  a  deep  and  valua- 
ble impression  on  those  among  whom  they 
were  performed.  "I  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve," he  adds,  "  that  God  in  his  abounding 
goodness,  has  aided  my  feeble  endeavors,  so 
far  as  to  make  them  influential,  in  public 
and  private,  for  the  awakening  of  a  number 
of  souls,  in  different  places,  who,  I  have  rea- 
son to  hope,  have  been  brought  to  the  sav- 
ing knowledge  of  the  truth." —  lb. 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  35 

In  a  letter  from  Mr.  Couch  to  his  friends  * 
dated  Vassalborough,  December  9,  1803,  ia 
some  more  particular  development  of  his 
feelings  amidst  his  work,  and  reference  to 
the  impressions  his  labors  were  making. 
**  0  brethren  !  keep  near  to  the  throne  of 
grace  ;  and  do  not  forget  your  poor  unwor- 
thy brother.  Pray  tliat  I  may  be  an  instru- 
ment of  building  up  the  Savior's  cauie  ;  and 
that  1  may  see,  and  meet  with  you  once  more 
in  this  world,  if  it  be  the  will  of  our  pre- 
cious Savior.  But  the  will  of  the  Lord 
be  done.  *  *  i  preach  8  times  a  week. 
People  come  from  all  quarters  to  hear  the 
poor  child.  They  "wonder/  and  I  fear  they 
will  '  perish.'  0  that  God  would  convert 
them  !  They  yoke  up  their  oxen,  and  bi'ing 
in  their  families  to  hear  the  gospel.  0 
brethren,  again  I  entreat,  pray  for  me !" 

Mr.  Couch,  it  will  be  seen,  as  in  his  for- 
mer labors,  so  in  these,  was  full  of  ardor. 
It  was  in  his  nature  to  need  checks,  often- 
times, rather  than  incitements.     Hence  the 

*  Tne  jouQg  men  with  whom  he  had  been  associated- 


36  MEMOIR  OP 

quaint  but  significant  caution  which  his  pas- 
tor, Dr.  Spring,  gave  him,  as  he  was  depart- 
ing on  his  missionary  tour  : 

"Paul,  Paul,  first  of  all  be  sure  you're  right ; 

"  For  when  you  run,  you  run  with  all  your  might." 

"  And  this  is  the  way,"  as  a  friend  has 
said,  "  in  which  he  did  up  all  his  work  for 
God,  and  Christ,  and  souls.  He  did  it  with 
all  his  might." 

Further  testimony  to  the  nature  and  value 
of  Mr.  Couch's  missionary  labors  may  be 
gathered  from  several  sources. 

In  the  Memoir  of  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall,. 
— "  father  Sewall,"  the  Patriarch  Missionary 
of  Maine  —  is  the  following  paragraph :  *'  In 
Orrington  [on  the  Penobscot]  he  found  per- 
sons under  serious  impressions,  whose  atten- 
tion had  been  arrested  by  the  preaching  of 
a  Mr.  Couch,  who  was  laboring  in  that  re- 
gion under  the  auspices  of  the  same  Society 
with  himself."— ;?.  136. 

From  some  of  Mr.  Couch's  early  friends, 
reminiscences  of  him  have  been  received  of 
particular  interest.    The  late  Rev.  Kiah 


HEV.  PAUL  COUCH.  3T 

Bayley,  of  East  Hardwick,  Yt.,  writing  of 
him  a  little  before  his  own  death,  gives  sev- 
eral items  of  this  description.  Mr.  Bayley, 
at  the  time  of  his  early  acquaintance  with 
Mr.  Couch,  was  settled  at  New  Castle,  Lin- 
coln county,  Me.  Mrs.  Bayley  was  a  New- 
buryport  lady,  and  a  particular  friend  of 
Mr.  Couch.  This  brought  Mr.  C.  often  at 
their  house.  Mr.  Bayley,  being  desired  to 
give  his  recollections  of  Mr.  Couch,  and  re- 
plying under  date  of  July  18,  1857,  says  : 
"  I  should  be  glad  to  oblige  you,  and  help 
my  old  friend  [Couch]  to  speak  to  living 
men  of  the  great  salvation."  Then,  a  few 
days  later,  July  22,  he  writes  more  at  length: 
"Soon  after  he  [Mr.  Couch]  came  into 
Maine,  he  visited  some  old  friends  in  Alna, 
and  went  np  into  Kennebec  county,  every 
where  preaching  the  gospel  with  great  zeal, 
urging  sinners  to  repentance,  and  beseech- 
ing them  day  and  night  to  become  recon- 
ciled unto  God." 

Mr.  Bayley  continues,  noticing  the  inter- 
est Mr.  Couch's  preaching  awakened,  the 
concern  of  some  good  men,  at  first,  as  to  the 


38  MEMOIR   OF 

gemiincncss  of  the  work  he  was  perform-- 
inff,  and  the  incipient  disease  which  his  ex- 
cessive labors  were  thus  early  bringing  upon 
himself  :  "  He  was  ardent,  and  imprudent," 
he  says,  "  and  nature  soon  flagged.  Colds 
ne<:lected  settled  into  rheumatism  incura- 
ble. Pic  was  compelled  to  leave  the  field 
of  his  labors  ;  and  he  repaired  to  his  friendfl 
at  Alna. 

He  was  not,  however,  long  contented  m 
his  confinement.  Though  pressed  with  dis- 
ease, lie  was  soon  again  making  some  at- 
tempts in  his  favorite  work.  Mr.  Bayley, 
in  continuing  his  narrative,  gives  some 
graphic  descriptions  of  Mr.  Couch's  preach- 
ing. 

"  In  the  winter,"  he  says,  ''  soon  after  he 
returned  to  Alna,  I  was  told  that  Paul 
Couch  had  preached  on  the  Sabbath  at  my 
meeting  house,  and  had  appointed  a  third 
meeting  at  my  dwelling-house.  [Mr.  B.,  it 
would  seem,  having  been  absent  from  his 
own  [)lace  of  worship  on  that  day.]  Good 
father  McLean  had  heard  him  during  the 
day,  said   the  man  appeared  quite  unwell, 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  39 

and  was  so  lame  that  he  had  to  crawl  up  the 
pulpit  stairs.  The  old  Scotch  divine,"  re- 
Buraes  Mr.  Bay  ley,  "  the  long-tried  and  faith- 
ful missionary  who  had  for  years  labored  in 
the  new  settlements  in  Maine,  wished  to 
hear  the  young  evangelist  from  Newbury- 
port,  of  whom  he  had  heard  reports  widely- 
different.  He  saw  that  he  was  crippled  ; 
but  he  soon  found  that  he  could  yet  wield 
both  sword  and  spear  ;  and  resolved  to  let 
him  work.  The  old  warrior," — so  Mr.  B. 
expresses  it,  —  "  was  pleased,  and  hastened 
to  report,  [to  bear  tidings  to  Mr.  B.  the 
pastor.]  As  the  pastor's  house  was  two 
miles  from  the  meeting-house,  and  Mr. 
Couch  was  feeble,  he  did  not  arrive  for 
some  time.  But  when  he  did  arrive,  he 
found  the  people  gathered  and  waiting  for 
him.  The  little  assembly  heard,  and  listen- 
ed to  the  message,  with  deep  interest.  The 
text  chosen  was  Acts  v.  first  clause  of  2d 
verse,  — '  And  kept  back  part  of  the  price.^ 
Feeble  as  the  preacher  was,  he  spoke  with 
energy  and  power,  and  direct  application.'' 
In  Mr.  B.'s  spirited  language,  pointing  out 


40  MEMOIR  OF 

the  character  of  the  sermon  :  "  While  pour- 
ing grape-shot  upon  sinners,  'who  are  ready, 
under  conviction,  to  part  with  many  things 
for  Christ,  but  cannot  give  up  all,^  he  threw 
a  bomb-shell  at  those  Christians,  who  pro- 
fess to  give  up  all,  but  kept  back  their  chil- 
dren, the  most  precious  part ;  who  lay  down 
what  cost  them  nothing — say  they  have  giv- 
en up  all,  but  reserve  their  children — will 
not  give  their  children  to  God,  who  claims 
them  specially  as  his.  [Are  there  not  too 
many  in  the  church,  who  keep  back  thus  a 
part  more  precious  than  gold  ?]  Mr.  Mc 
Lean  heard  the  lecture  that  evening,  and 
ever  after  manifested  a  cordial  respect  for 
the  young  apostle,  and  was  ready  to  give 
unto  him  the  right  hand  of  fellowship." 
This  "  good  father  McLean "  was  the 
"Rev.  Alexander  McLean,"  who  was  born 
in  Scotland  about  the  middle  of  the  last 
century.  He  was  educated  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Aberdeen,  and  was  a  talented  as  well 
as  learned  divine.  In  his  early  life  he  em- 
igrated to  this  country,  and  was  installed  as 
the  first  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church 


REV.  PAUL   COUCH.  41 

at  Bristol,  Lincoln  county,  Maine,  July  4, 
1773  ;  and  died  January  11, 1808,  at  the  age 
of  64. 

''  The  church  at  Bristol  was  limited  in 
numbers  and  feeble  in  resources.  Hence 
Mr.  McL.,  early  in  his  pastorate,  engaged, 
a  portion  of  the  time,  in  missionary  labors^ 
and  travelled  extensively  over  many  parts 
of  the  State.  He  greatly  aided  the  late 
Father  Sewall  in  the  organization  of  many 
of  the  churches  in  new  and  destitute  places, 
and  was  thus  greatly  beloved,  and  highly 
useful. 

"  Some  of  the  people  of  Bristol  emigrating 
to  this  region  [the  north-western  part  of 
Kennebec  Co.]*  he  often  visited  it,  and  did 
much  to  lay  the  foundations  of  truth  and 
righteousness  among  us  on  a  solid  basis. 
He  was  a  sound,  and  discreet,  doctrinal  and 
instructive  preacher,  and  had  his  catecheti- 
cal and  theological  classes  of  young  people, 


*  These  items  have  been  kindly  furnished  by  the  Rev. 
Isaac  Rogers,  of  Farmington,  Me.,  to  whom  grateful  ac- 
knowledgementB  are  here  rendered. 


42  MEMOIR  OP 

that  issued  in  the  hopeful  and  vigorous 
piety  and  steadfast  faith  of  most  of  them. 
Those  of  them  in  this  region  who  have  died, 
lived  the  lives  and  died  the  death  of  the 
righteous  :  and  those  of  them  who  remain 
unto  the  present  time,  are  '*  looking  for  the 
mercy  of  God  unto  eternal  life,"  being 
"  ready  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ,  Avhich 
is  far  better." 

Such  was  the  man,  to  whose  searching 
Bcrutiny  the  young  evangelist  was  subjected  ; 
by  whose  sound  and  thorough  judgment,  the 
character,  doctrine  and  talent  of  the  young 
aspirant,  and  the  nature  of  the  work  he  was 
doing,  were  estimated.  The  result  was 
most  satisfactory. 

Mr.  Bayley,  having  spoken  of  the  strong 
friendship  which  sprung  up  between  these 
two  earnest  and  devoted  servants  of  Christ, 
exclaims  "  Dear  men !  They  have  long 
since  met  in  a  better  land,  where  suf- 
ferings for  Christ  and  his  cause  will  be 
rewarded  with  crowns  and  thrones  by  those 
hands  that  were  pierced  on  Calvary,  that  all 
his  people  might  reign  on  Mount  Zion !" 


REr.  ];»AUL  cotJCH.  43 

And  since  the  above  sentence  was  penned 
by  Mr.  Bayley,  with  the  preceding  notices 
of  Mr.  Couch,  the  author  of  them  has  him- 
self joined  the  same  great  assembly.  The 
public  papers  have  announced  "  the  death  of 
the  Rev.  Kiah  Bayley,  which  took  place  at 
his  residence  in  East  Hardwick,  on  the  17th 
of  August,  1857,  at  the  age  of  87  years.  He 
formerly  labored  in  Maine,  and  was  one  of 
the  fathers  of  Bangor  Seminary."  The  "  fa- 
thers, wliere  are  they  ?  and  the  prophets,  do 
they  live  for  ever  ?" 

Mr.  Bayley  retained,  in  a  remarkable  de- 
gree, for  a  man  of  his  years,  his  mental 
clearness  and  sprightliness.  To  some  en- 
quiries made  of  him  respecting  Mr.  Couch's 
missionary  labors,  by  the  compiler  of  this 
Memoir,  he  answered  with  great  prompt- 
ness —  the  very  next  day  —  observing,  even 
playfully,  "  I  hasten  to  reply,  as  I  have  never 
allowed  myself  to  waif  for  the  last  bell." 
Subsequently,  he  gave  a  description  of  him- 
self, as  under  a  load  of  infirmities,  marked 
yet  with  a  terseness,  vivacity,  raciness,  truly 
worthy  of  observation.     "A  recluse  —  sel- 


44  MEMOIR   OF 

dom  go  to  tlie  door  —  feeble,  palsy  hanging 
over  me  —  shattered  brain  ;  yet  suffer  little 
pain  —  slide  along,  read,  write  a  little,  should 
not  —  a  wreck  —  unprofitable  —  thankful  if 
my  Master  will  give  me  a  lodging  in  his 
kitchen."  This,  but  some  four  weeks  pre- 
vious to  his  departure  to  other  scenes  :  in 
spirit  and  manner,  not  a  little  like  his  friend 
Couch,  of  whom  he  had  been  so  approvingly 
speaking. 

"  After  a  few  days'  sojourn  at  Newcastle," 
to  quote  Mr.  Bayley's  concluding  remarks, 
^'  Mr.  Couch  left  a  good  name  with  us,  and 
returned  to  Alna,  where  he  preached  one 
private  lecture,  and  took  his  bed  at  the 
house  of  his  friends,  Mr.  D.  Carton  and 
family,  hoping  that  under  their  kind  nursing 
he  would  soon  be  able  to  take  the  field 
again.  But  no  :  the  young  giant  was  too 
deeply  wounded  to  rise.  There  he  was 
chained.  It  was,  I  think,  more  than  a  year 
before  he  was  able  to  return  to  his  home." 
Yet,  even  in  confinement,  he  was  not  useless* 
He  "  preached  to  all  who  came  to  his  lodg- 
ings, and  left  a  good  impression  on  the  minds 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  45 

of  saints  and  sinners.  His  '  light  did  so 
shine,  that  others  saw  it,  and  were  con- 
strained to  glorify  God.'  " 

"  Mr.  Couch  had  a  good  voice,  spoke  with 
power,  as  one  having  authority,  and  a  divine 
power  seemed  to  attend  his  messages.    He 
was,  in  a  word,  no  ordinary  man.    In  a 
short  period,  he  rose  from  a  humble  situa- 
tion, and  took  a  high  position  among  learn- 
ed divines.    Had  he  been  allowed  to  labor 
in  the  field,  he  would,  without  question,  have 
proved  himself  a  sound,  able,  and  popular 
preacher,  bold  as  a  lion,  and  mighty  through 
God  to  the  pulling  down  of  the  strong  holds 
of  Satan.    But  such  was  not  God's  design. 
He  had  appointed  him  another  field  of  con- 
flict,  where  he  battled  long  and  manfully." 
Mr.   Couch  often  had  an  originality  of 
manner,  and  a  pointedness  of  expression, 
which  not  a  little  increased  his  attractiveness 
as  a  preacher.  Among  the  anecdotes  related 
of  him,  is  the  following,  illustrative  of  the 
point  in  question.    As  he  was  prosecuting 
his  missionary  work,  in  the  new  settlements, 
and  making  deep  impressions  by  his  own 


45  MEMOIR  OF 

labors,  he  met  sometimes  with  strong  excite- 
ment arising-  from  other  causes.  People 
called  New  Lights,  were  scattered  tlu-ough 
many  places.  These  people  attended  exten- 
sively on  his  meetings,  and,  by  endeavoring 
to  introduce  their  own  irrcgidarities,  occa- 
sioned liim  no  small  annoyance.  On  one 
occasion,  he  came  in  contact,  as  a  friend  has 
expressed  it,  "  with  one  ot  those  wild,  hur- 
ricane  revivals,"  wdiich  this  people  laijored 
to  produce,  in  which  there  was  not  only 
groaning,  shouting  and  clapping,  but  jerk- 
ing, leaping,  screaming,  swooning,  falling 
into  trances,  &c.  Mr.  C.  was  invited  to 
preach,  and  after  some  hesitation  consented. 
He  took  for  his  text,  Acts  xix:  13 — 15: 
"  Then  certain  vagabond  Jews,"  &c.  He 
introduced  the  subject  historically,  and  at 
some  length,  making  prominent  the  last 
verse,  "  The  evil  spirit  answered  and  said, 
Jesus  I  know,  and  Paul  I  know,  but  who 
are  ye?"  and  then  drew  from  the  whole  this 
doctrine  ;  Some  professed  servants  of  Christ 
have  such  a  strangle  way  cf  doing  things,  that 
even  the  devil  himself  do  it  know  what  to  make 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  .   47 

of  them.r  [How  lie  applied  his  subject,  we 
are  Dot  iDformcd  ;  but  we  may  presume 
with  the  same  bold  unsparing  hand  which 
seemed  shadowed  forth  by  the  text  itself.] 
Rev.  D.  M.  Mitchell,  now  City  Missionary 
in  Roxbury,  after  leaving-  the  Theological 
Seminary  (Andovcr)  in  1814,  labored  for  a 
short  time  as  missionary  in  Maine,  on  a  part 
of  the  same  field  where  Mr.  Couch's  early 
missionary  labors  had  been  bestowed.  Mr. 
Mitchell  bears  testimony  harmonious  with 
that  which  has  gone  before.  He  speaks  of 
Mr  Couch's  having  left  upon  all  the  region 
the  impress  of  his  "indefatigable  zeal." 
"  He  was  often,"  he  says,  "  referred  to  as  a 
pattern  of  ministerial  zeal  and  fidelity  ;  as 
one  who  spared  not  himself.  Night  and 
day,  in  the  coldest  season  of  the  winter,  he 
preached  in  crowded  school-houses,  and.  in 
private  dwellings,  till  his  blood  often  be- 
came greatly  heated  ;.  and  then  by  exposure 
in  going  perhaps  some  miles  to  his  lodgings, 
he  laid  the  foundation  of  the  illness  that 
followed.  The  people  called  him  Boanerges. 
He  was  hated,  indeed,  by  the  enemies  of  the 


48  MEMOIR  OP 

truth  ;  but  was  greatly  beloved  by  Chris- 
tians ;  and  souls  not  a  few  were  given  him 
as  seals  of  his  ministry.  Mrs.  Mitchell 
recollects  his  preaching  at  her  father^s 
house  —  Gen.  Crosby's,  of  Hampden,  Me. — 
She  says,  he  was  considered  then  a  second 
Whitefield,  and  great  numbers  flocked  to 
hear  him.  Two,  at  least,  then  members  of 
her  father's  family  were  believed  to  be  sav- 
ingly benefited  by  his  preaching." 

These  things  exhibited  sufficiently  the 
spirit  with  which  Mr.  Couch  entered  upon 
and  prosecuted  his  short  missionary  work. 
The  one  thought  of  preaching  the  gospel 
filled  his  mind.  He  laid  himself  on  the  al- 
tar, for  God's  service  and  glory,  and  labored 
in  all  things  to  "  make  full  proof  of  his 
ministry." 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  49 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"  I  have  chosen  thee  in  the  furnace  of  affliction. — [Isa. 
xlyiii:  10. 

But  the  light  in  which  Mr.  Couch  is 
mainly  to  be  viewed  is  that  of  a  sufferer. 

In  previous  years,  even  in  his  youth,  he 
had  been  afflicted,  at  times,  with  rheumatic 
tendencies  and  complaints.  In  one  instance, 
a  severe  rheumatic  fever  had  made  some  in- 
roads upon  his  general  health.  His  late 
hours,  and  early  hours,  and  vigils,  in  the 
zeal  of  his  first  love,  could  not  but  leave 
some  effects  behind.  And  the  labors  and 
exposures  of  his  missionary  life,  were  fear- 
fully suited  to  bring  on  the  grand  result  that 
ensued. 

After  the  severe  illness  at  Alna,  related 
in  the  preceding  chapter,  he  did  indeed  so 
far  recover  as  to  be  able  to  preach  a  few 
times,  and  to  revive  the  hope  that  he  might 
yet  be  permitted  to  resume  his  labors.  In 
4 


50  MEMOIR  OF 

the  summer  succeeding,  (1804,)  he  preached 
sparingly,  in  New  Milford,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Alna,  and  seems  to  have  spent  a 
part  of  the  summer  in  that  place.  And  the 
people  of  Canaan,  among  whom  a  large  share 
of  his  missionary  labors  had  been  performed, 
had  hopes  of  his  restoration  :  in  which  case, 
they  were  desirous  of  his  settlement  with 
them  as  their  minister.  Dr.  Spring,  being 
consulted  in  regard  to  the  matter,  wrote 
Mr.  Couch  in  reply  :  "  There  appears  no 
prospect  of  your  going  [to  Canaan]  at  pre- 
sent. *  *  But  it  is  hoped  you  will  re- 
cruit ;  and  I  hope  you  will  settle  yet.  *  * 
I  can  freely  and  heartily  recommend  you  to 
the  people  of  Canaan,  if  they  will  promise 
one  thing,  and  fulfil  that  promise,  viz.  :  that 
they  will  not  suffer  you  to  labor  too  much. 
God  bless  you,  and  succeed  you  in  the  great 
work." 

But  the  flickering  hopes  Mr.  Couch  cher- 
ished, that  he  should  be  well  again,  were  in- 
termingled with  many  fears.  His  sun  had 
scarcely  risen,  ere  it  was  obscured  by  clouds. 
His  future    appeared    to    him    dark    and 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  61 

gloomy.  "  I  would  gladly  have  done  more/' 
he  said,  "  if  health  and  strength  had  allow- 
ed." In  a  letter,  dated  New  Milford,  Aug. 
6,  1804,  addressed  to  the  society  of  young 
men,  his  former  associates,  he  says  :  "  You 
won't  forget  me  in  your  prayers,  and  I  hope 
I  shall  not  forget  you.  God,  I  fear,  is  an- 
gry with  me :  and,  0  brethren,  what  shall  I 
do  ?  '  When  I  suffer  his  terrors,  I  am  dis- 
tracted.' But  *  though  he  slay  me,  yet  will 
I  trust  in  him.'  "  The  lesson  of  suffering, 
with  his  temperament,  was  a  hard  lesson  to 
learn. 

In  the  autumn  of  this  year,  he  returned 
again  to  his  home,  where,  what  he  had  fear- 
ed began  to  be  more  fully  realized.  His 
home  soon  became,  in  a  sense,  his  prison : 
where,  for  thirty-eight  years,  with  very  lit- 
tle exception,  he  was  confined  to  his  house  ; 
and  for  twenty-eight  years,  entirely  to  his 
chamber.  During  some  of  the  earlier  of 
these  years,  he  made  occasionally  an  effort 
to  get  abroad.  In  1807,  he  was,  with  diffi- 
culty, conveyed  to  Saratoga  Springs,  in 
hope  of  advantage  from  the  waters  there, 


52  MEMOIR  OP 

but  returned  without  benefit.  In  1811  he 
was  conveyed  to  Reading,  (Mass.)  some 
twenty-five  miles  from  his  home,  to  try  the 
practice  of  an  eminent  physician  residing 
there.  But  nothing  was  of  any  avail.  Two 
or  three  times,  during  these  years,  he  was 
carried  to  the  sanctuary,  having  a  chair  set 
for  him  in  the  aisle,  with  proper  fixtures,  he 
being  unable  to  sit  as  other  people  sat.  The 
last  time  was  on  a  communion  day,  that  he 
might  enjoy  once  more  the  fellowship  ot  his 
beloved  brethren  and  sisters  at  the  Lord's 
table.  A  very  few  times,  during  these  early 
years,  he  went  to  the  house  of  a  relative  or 
friend,  being  aided  into  a  carriage,  and  out 
of  it,  by  two  or  three  individuals,  who 
mainly  bore  him  in  their  arms. 

These  incidents  afforded  a  little  relief 
from  absolute  confinement.  But  even  these 
soon  ceased,  and  the  confinement,  first  to  the 
house,  and  then  to  the  chamber,  was  com- 
plete. And  it  was  marked  with  many  try- 
ing circumstances.  For  the  whole  period  of 
thirty-eight  years,  he  never  put  off,  or  put 
on,  his  clothes,  nor  even  lifted  a  foot,  with- 


REV.  PAUL  COtJCH.  53 

out  assistance  ; — assistance  rendered  mainly 
by  a  SISTER,  a  little  older  than  himself,  and 
whose  attentions  to  him  were  as  assiduous, 
as  his  own  necessities  were  remarkable.* 
His  limbs,  especially  at  the  joints,  were 
drawn  out  of  shape  and  distorted  by  his 
disease  ;  his  feet  were  swollen,  though  his 
general  frame  was  emaciated  ;  his  hands 
were  so  drawn  up  by  extreme  pain,  that  it 
was  with  much  difficulty  he  could  hold  a 
small  book  or  a  pen  —  in  the  latter  years 
not  at  all ;  his  neck  was  stiff,  so  that  he 
could  turn  his  head  in  but  the  slightest  de- 
gree. He  sat,  or  lay,  encased  in  flannels, 
and  his  strength  almost  entirely  destroyed. 
He  was  the  subject  of  constant  pains,  till 
pains  became  a  second  nature.  Powerful 
anodynes  alone  would  give  relief;   which, 


*  The  assiduities  of  this  sister  can  never  be  too  much 
commended.  She  lived  in  her  brother,  and  for  him,  and 
never  seemed  to  think  any  thing  a  burden  she  was  called 
on  to  do  for  him.  He  was  her  charge ;  and  she  gave  her- 
self, with  entireness  and  with  great  cheerfulness,  to  the 
care  of  him  as  her  life's  business. 


54  MEMOIR     OP 

however,  were  resorted  to  less  and  less, 
scarcely  half  the  quantity  being  used  in  his 
latter  years,  that  was  formerly  employed. 
For  the  first  twelve  or  thirteen  years  of 
Mr.  Couch's  confinement,  his  vision,  which 
had  always  been  remarkably  clear  and  dis- 
tinct, continued  unimpaired.  At  the  end  of 
this  time,  a  pain  of  great  severity  seized 
him  in  the  eyes.  This,  for  about  two  years, 
was  the  heaviest  part  of  the  affliction  he  was 
called  to  bear.  His  eyes  could  endure  no 
light,  and  were  the  seat  of  unceasing  suffer- 
ing ;  till,  at  length,  the  sight  was  almost 
wholly  destroyed.  For  more  than  twenty 
years,  he  was  able  only  to  discover  very 
dimly  some  of  the  forms  before  him,  without 
ever  distinguishing  countenances  or  fea- 
tures, or  enjoying  any  of  the  solid  advan- 
tages of  vision.  The  language  of  Milton, 
with  little  abatement,  he  could  make  his 
own  : 

"  Thus  with  the  year 
Seasons  return  ;  but  not  to  me  returns 
Day,  or  the  sweet  approach  of  e'en  or  morn 
Or  sight  of  vernal  bloom,  or  summer's  rose, 
Or  flocks,  or  herds,  or  human  face  divine." 

Par.  I.  B.  Hi. 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  55 

Even  the  dim  vision  of  Mr.  Couch,  how- 
ever, discerning  but  the  most  shadowy 
forms,  set  him  at  a  great  remove  from  the 
deep  gloom  of  total  blindness.  To  have 
only  this  assurance  of  the  light,  was  a  great 
source  of  comfort  and  encouragement  to 
him,  amidst  his  many  trials. 

In  the  absence  of  vision,  his  hearing  be- 
came very  acute.  He  would  distinguish  his 
friends,  who  were  in  the  habit  of  calling,  by 
their  step  on  the  stairs  in  ascending  to  his 
room.  Even  their  rap  at  the  door,  would 
acquaint  him  often  beforehand,  who  was  the 
individual  he  was  about  to  see. 


56  MEMOIR  OF 


CHAPTER  y. 

"  Do  thyself  no  harm." —  [Acts  xvi :  28. 

It  has  been  already  signified,  that  the  suf- 
ferings which  Mr.  Couch  endured  were,  in 
part,  at  least,  the  fruit  of  his  own  indiscre- 
tion, of  his  own  want  of  care  of  himself  at 
the  beginning  of  his  active  life.  While  yet 
working  at  his  trade,  besides  the  early  and 
late  hours,  as  already  mentioned,  he  imbibed 
the  idea,  that,  for  him,  four  hours  in  his 
twenty-four  were  sufficient  to  be  devoted  to 
sleep.  Hence,  not  unfrequently,  considera- 
ble portions  of  the  night  were  employed  by 
him  in  secret  devotion  :  sometimes  in  the 
chamber  ;  sometimes  abroad  in  the  open  air 
—  at  the  burying-ground,  or  other  solitary 
place,  favoring  deep  religious  impression. 
The  lines  uttered  of  our  Savior, — 

"  Cold  mountains  and  the  midnight  air 
Witnessed  the  fervor  of  thy  prayer,"  &e. — 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  67 

had  a  charm  for  him,  and  it  seemed  to  him 
becoming  in  a  disciple,  to  attempt  to  imitate 
the  example  of  his  Lord. 

When  he  entered  upon  labors  more  ap- 
propriately ministerial,  we  have  seen,  he 
was  equally  unsparing  of  himself.  When 
remonstrated  with,  and  warned  that  he  was 
doing  himself  injury,  he  was  accustomed  to 
reply,  that  "  He  thought  it  likely  be  should 
get  through  soon,  but  that  he  had  rather 
wear  out  than  rust  out  f  and  then  would 
urge  on  again  his  imprudent  course.  For 
this  temerity  and  want  of  a  right  estimate 
of  things  ho  paid  a  great  price.  Near  for- 
ty YEARS  of  suffering  was  the  penalty  of  the 
violated  law  which  he  had  so  fearfully  ig- 
nored and  broken  !  We  cannot  die  when 
we  please,  nor  rise  above  the  appointed  con- 
ditions of  our  existence.  And  God  may 
hold  us  to  the  consequences  of  our  actions 
much  longer  than  we,  when  we  are  perform- 
ing them,  imagine. 

Mr.  Couch  himself  often  dwelt  on  this 
general  subject  in  subsequent  life.  He 
clearly  saw  his  error,  and  bitterly  deplored 


58  MEMOIR  OF 

it,  and  warned  young  ministers  particularly, 
and  with  great  earnestness,  when  he  saw 
the  warning  needed,  against  a  course  which, 
to  him,  had  proved  so  disastrous.  There  is, 
indeed,  he  well  knew,  an  error  on  the  other 
Bide  :  an  excessive  carefulness  of  one's  self; 
a  kind  of  sentimental  delicacy,  that  fears  a 
true  apostolic  earnestness ;  that  shrinks 
from  grappling  boldly  with  the  grand  evils 
of  the  time,  and  studies  unduly  its  own  ease 
and  comfort.  But  while  this  error  should 
be  sedulously  avoided,  there  should  be,  on 
the  other  hand,  equal  care,  not  to  throw  life 
needlessly  away.  No  man  has  a  right,  in 
ordinary  circumstances,  to  undermine  his 
constitution  by  excessive  labors,  or  incon- 
siderate exposures,  and  thus  bring  him.self 
to  a  premature  grave,  or  disable  himself 
ever  after  for  active  usefulness  in  the  world. 
But  God  forgives  our  follies  and  mistakes, 
when  repented  of  before  him.  So  he  did  in 
the  case  of  his  suffering  servant,  of  whom  we 
are  speaking,  and  overruled  th^  affliction 
that  followed,  for  his  own  glory,  and  the 
good  of  the  sufferer,  and  many  others. 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  59 


CHAPTER  YI. 

"  Thy  vows  are  upon  me,  0  God."  —  [Ps.  Ivi :  12. 

Mr.  Couch,  eyen  through  all  his  confine- 
ment, viewed  himself  as  a  public  man.  When 
he  gave  himself  to  the  ministry,  he  gave 
himself  to  an  office,  high  and  sacred  in  his 
eyes  :  and  though  he  was  never  ordained 
strictly  according  to  the  forms  in  use,  yet 
was  his  consecration  of  himself  so  earnest 
and  full,  and  the  recognition  of  him  by  oth- 
er ministers  and  churches  so  cordial  and 
decided,  and  the  approving  testimony  of  the 
Divine  Spirit  owning  his  labors  so  marked 
and  precious  to  him,  that  he  wished  ever  to 
retain  the  position  in  which  ho  had,  he  con- 
ceived, been  virtually  placed.  The  idea,  as 
a-whole.  was  one  of  great  value  to  him. 

Mr.  Couch,  from  the  beginning,  was  care- 
ful in  his  scrutiny  of  his  motives  of  action. 
He  believed  that  he  had  given  himself  to 


00  MEMOIR  OF 

the  ministry  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the 
good  of  the  world.  The  necessity  of  this 
motive  was  ever  much  with  him  ;  as  ex- 
pressed in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  "  That  you 
may  have  the  comfort  of  knowing,  and  being 
sure,  that  your  motives  are  solely  for  the 
glory  of  God.''  This  was  the  basis  of  his 
private  Christian  life,  and  he  endeavored  to 
make  it  the  basis  of  his  public  acts,  and  to 
carry  it  also  into  his  life  of  confinement  and 
suffering.  This  it  was  which  shone  out  in 
his  temporary  illness  at  Alna.*  And  this 
gave  life  and  power  to  the  longer  scene  of 
suffering  to  which  he  was  appointed.  As 
one  of  his  early  and  long-observing  friends 
has  expressed  it :  "  Deprived  of  the  privi- 
lege of  preaching  in  public,  or  visiting  from 
house  to  house,  he  preached  loudly  in  his 
chamber,  and  was,  manifestly,  blessed  not  a 
little  in  his  labors  there." 
The  poet  has  sung  : 

"  The  chamber  where  the  good  man  meets  his  fate' 

Is  privileged  beyond  the  common  walk 

Of  virtuous  life,  quite  in  the  verge  of  heaven," 

*  See  pp.  44  and  45. 


EEV.  PAUL  COUCH.  61 

Such  was  the  chamber  of  the  subject  of 
our  narrative  for  nearly  forty  years  :  for 
during  that  whole  period  he  viewed  himself, 
and  was  viewed  by  others,  as,  in  some  sense, 
a  dying  man. 

Of  Mr.  Couch's  life  of  confinement,  it  has 
been  already  observed,  that  he  had  uncom- 
monly clear  views  of  his  sufferings,  and  of 
Bufferings  generally,  as  constituting  a  part  of 
the  divine  plan,  ordained  alike  for  the  good 
of  the  sufferer,  and  for  great  ends  of  public 
utility.  The  illustrations  of  truth,  and  the 
moral  impressions  to  be  made  on  beholders, 
by  means  of  suffering,  were,  in  his  view, 
along  with  personal  benefit,  a  great  element 
in  the  divine  economy  of  the  world.  And 
this,  more  than  any  thing,  it  was,  that  sus- 
tained him  under  the  severe  trials  to  which 
he  was  appointed.  This  doctrine  filled  his 
mind  with  some  of  the  grandest  thoughts  ; 
made  him  feel  that  his  life,  though  shut  up 
within  a  narrow  chamber,  was  yet,  in  fact, 
connected  with  the  grand  whole  around 
him,  and  with  all  succeeding  duration.  If 
he  experienced  pain,  and  suffered,  in  a  sense, 


62  MEMOIR  OF 

the  loss  of  all  things,  it  was  for  a  great  end, 
which  he  believed  would  yet  be  revealed  as 
worthy  of  God,  and  promotive  of  the  inter- 
ests of  his  kingdom.  Need  it  surprise  us, 
that  he  found  in  these  views  some  of  his 
choicest  comforts  and  supports  under  the 
heavy  burdens  laid  upon  him  ?  While  he 
had  yet  some  faint  hope  of  relief  and  restora- 
tion, he  said  :  "  God  can,  and  if  it  be  besM;, 
he  will  restore  me  ;  otherwise,  I  do  not  de- 
sire it.  It  is  a  pleasant  duty,  submissively 
to  bow  before  God,  and  give  up  our  will,  in 
all  things,  to  him."  The  first  concern  of 
Mr.  Couch,  therefore,  was  to  suffer  rightly. 
This  was  his  mission,  to  suffer.  And  he 
would  suffer  rightly. 

It  may  well  be  supposed,  that  a  man  of 
Mr.  Couch's  temperament  —  his  character 
fitting  him  for  the  active,  rather  than  the 
passive  graces  —  should  have  found  it  diffi- 
cult, at  first,  to  bear  the  yoke  of  afiliction 
with  patience.  And  doubtless  failures  some- 
times marked  his  way,  especially  in  its 
earlier  stages.  It  is  to  be  observed,  howev- 
er, in  relation  to  this    matter,  that  Mr. 


EEV.  PAUL  COUCH.  63 

Couch's  manner  sometimes  made  him  wrong* 
ly  interpreted.  He  was  bold  and  strong  in 
his  expressions,  and  notunfrequently  inclin- 
ed to  paradox.  In  the  earlier  days  of  his 
illness  especially  he  was  often  expressing 
his  wish  to  depart — and  sometimes  it  would 
seem  impatiently.  When  intelligence  was 
brought  him  of  the  death  of  acquaintances, 
one  and  another,  he  would  wonder  why  it 
should  be  so,  that  others  could  die,  but  he 
could  not.  ''  Every  body  can  die  but  me  !" 
To  which  the  faithful  sister  would  reply, 
*'  Paul,  you  will  never  die,  till  you  are  will- 
ing to  live.'*'  The  following  incident  is  of 
similar  complexion.  On  one  occasion,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Noyes,  who  had,  for  a  time,  been 
his  theological  teacher,  entered  his  room, 
and,  approaching  his  bed-side,  said  familiar- 
ly, "  Well,  Paul,  how  do  you  do  r  "  Oh, 
sir,"  said  Paul,  "  if  my  head  was  off,  I  should 
be  well  enough  !"  alluding  to  the  terrible 
pain  he  had  constantly  in  his  head  and  stiff 
neck.  Expressions  of  this  kind,  in  his  lips, 
it  is  believed,  were  rather  in  his  icay  —  the 
fruit  of  his  peculiarity  —  than  any  real  dC' 


f>4  MEMOIR  OF 

€ided  complaint  of  the  providence  of  God. 
In  the  latter  j^ears  of  his  life,  such  language 
was  less  frequent,  and  uttered,  if  uttered  at 
all,  in  a  milder  tone  :  and,  in  all  respects,  he 
manifested  a  much  more  subdued  and  child- 
like disposition.  Mr.  Couch  suffered,  in- 
deed, in  a  manly  way.  He  did  not  faint 
and  sink  under  his  burdens.  He  breasted 
the  billows  nobly.  He  had  good  courage. 
He  rested  on  great  truths,  and  on  God  :  and 
God  helped  him,  and  gave  him  acquiescence 
in  his  will,  and  triumph  over  the  pain. 
Considering  the  greatness  of  his  sufferings, 
and  the  long  continuance  of  them,  it  is  truly 
wonderful,  with  what  cheerfulness  and  re- 
signation he  bore  them.  For  thirty-eight 
years,  he  was  like  the  bush  that  "  burned 
with  fire,  and  yet  was  not  consumed." 

In  another  respect  Mr.  Couch  was  re- 
markable in  connexion  with  his  sufferings. 
He  was  never  inclined  to  make  his  suffer- 
ings a  subject  of  protracted  conversation. 
In  this  he  differed  from  many.  What  affects 
us,  we  think  must  equally  interest  others. 
Standing  invalids  and  sufferers  hence  often 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  65 

fall  into  the  habit  of  talking  excessively  of 
their  maladies.  There  are  some,  of  whom 
70U  can  scarce  inquire  how  they  do,  but  you 
must  hear  in  reply  a  long  description  of 
their  aches  and  pains,  and  this  repeated  as 
often  as  you  visit  them.  Our  friend  had  no 
relish  for  this.  To  the  inquiry  after  his 
health,  his  reply  was  generally  very  brief; 
often  like  the  following  :  "  Oh,  full  of  pain 
as  I  can  live  !"  and  he  would  then  pass  im- 
mediately to  other  topics.  He  was  unwil- 
ling, also,  that  the  family  should  entertain 
visitors  with  protracted  accounts  of  his 
daily  sufferings.  He  thought  there  should 
be  more  profitable  conversation. 


46  MEMOIR  OP 


CHAPTER  VII. 

"  And  behold,  the  bush  burned  with  fire,  and  the  bush 
was  not  consumed."  —  [Exod.  iii :  2. 

Mr.  Couch  was  a  man  of  strong  original 
powers  of  mind.  His  education,  as  we  have 
seen,  was  limited ;  but  it  was  sufficient  ot 
set  those  powers  in  vigorous  motion.  He 
was  eminently  a  self-made  man,  and  was  al- 
ways eminently  himself.  His  memory  was 
tenacious.  In  the  earlier  years  of  his  con- 
finement, he  commited  to  memory  the  whole 
of  Young's  Night  Thoughts  ;  and,  as  weari- 
some nights  were  appointed  to  him,  he 
would  often  beguile  the  tedious  hours,  as  he 
lay  alone,  by  repeating  passages  of  that 
grand  and  inestimable  work,  and  in  prayer. 
His  mind,  though  ardent,  was  yet  well-bal- 
anced ;  —  was  a  mind  of  good  proportions. 

Mr.  Couch  was  remarkable  for  the  clear- 
ness and  comprehension  of  his  views  of  the 
ifundamental  doctrines  of  religion.    He  had 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  67 

very  exalted  conceptions  of  God,  and  of  the 
government  of  God.  He  had  deep  views  of 
sin,  as  opposition  to  God,  and  the  welfare 
of  the  universe.  He  gave  the  highest  honor 
to  Christ,  as  a  Divine  and  glorious  Savior  ; 
and  attached  the  highest  importance  to  his 
atoning  sacrifice  for  the  sins- of  men.  He 
honored  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  saw  and  felt 
the  necessity  of  the  Spirit's  influences  in  or- 
der to  eternal  life.  No  man  moves  in  the 
right  direction,  without  the  Spirit's  breath- 
ing upon  his  heart.  These  doctrines,  and 
others  kindred  to  them,  constituting  what 
is  generally  called  the  Evangelical  system, 
he  held  in  the  very  highest  esteem.  He 
held  them,  not  as  empty  speculations,  but 
as  truths  of  the  utmost  practical  importance. 
In  his  theological  views,  and  in  his  gen- 
eral habits  of  thought  and  feeling,  Mr. 
Couch  belonged  rather  to  the  party  of  pro- 
gress, than  to  that  of  undue  conservatism  ; 
—  not,  however,  a  blind  and  unintelligent 
progress.  His  own  belief  was  too  firmly 
fixed,  to  be  easily  shaken.  His  doctrinal 
views  were  of  an  elevated  tone,  —  in  gen- 


68  MEMOIR  OP 

eral,  what  would  be  deemed  of  the  strongest 
character.  He  formed  his  judgments  rapid- 
ly, yet  not  without  care ;  and  his  mind 
moved  steadily  and  vigorously  along,  with 
the  progress  of  the  world.  He  loved  know- 
ledge—  secular  knowledge,  such  as  is  adapt- 
ed to  useful  —  as  well  as  that  pertaining 
to  higher  themes.  He  had  a  liberal  mind, 
and  kept  it  conversant  with  high  and  liberal 
things.  He  read  much,  while  his  eye-sight 
allowed  it.  And,  after  his  vision  failed 
him,  many  were  the  friends  who  devoted 
time  cheerfully  to  read  to  him  the  publica- 
tions of  the  day,  as  well  as  many  standard 
and  profounder  works.  Thus  he  kept  his 
mind  in  a  course  of  improvement :  which 
was  a  great  aid  to  him  in  struggling  under 
the  heavy  burdens  he  was  appointed  to  bear. 
Truth,  and  the  God  of  truth,  are  always  the 
support  of  the  upright  in  heart. 


BEV.  PAUL  COUCH.  69 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

"  Wherefore  glorify  ye  the  Lord  in  the  fires  V* — [l8a» 
xxiv :  15. 

But  though  Mr.  Couch's  mission  was  emi- 
nently that  of  s  ffering,  he  yet  by  no  means 
ceased  to  make  contributions  to  the  cause  of 
Christ  by  such  activities  as  were  still  within 
his  ability. 

From  the  beginning  of  his  confinement, 
he  uniformly  and  very  faithfully  maintained 
family  religion  and  worship,  till  within  a 
few  of  his  last  years,  when  his  debility  be- 
came so  great  that  he  could  not  longer  per- 
form this  service.  Though  he  had  not  a 
family  of  his  own,  yet  he  had  a  separate  es- 
tablishment, the  sister  before  mentioned,  and 
usually  one  or  two  young  persons,  his  rela- 
tives, with  himself,  constituting  the  house- 
hold. He  believed  in  the  Covenant  respect- 
ing families.     And  a  strength  and  deep  se- 


to  MEMOIR  05^ 

riousncss  ever  marked  his  family  devotions. 
The  little  band  of  brothers,  which  he  had 
aided  to  form,  augmented  from  time  to  time 
by  new  members,  as  well  as  diminished  by 
the  death  or  removal  of  old  ones,  held  fre- 
quent meetings  in  his  chamber,  till  near  the 
close  of  his  life.  These  meetings  were  em- 
ployed in  prayer  and  praise,  and  religious 
remark  and  discussion.  The  discussions 
often  involved  some  of  the  higher  doctrines 
of  religion.  The  little  fraternity  were  lov- 
ers of  doctrine.  Sometimes  Mr.  Couch,  be- 
fore he  was  disabled  from  holding  a  pen, 
would  write  a  brief  essay  on  some  point  of 
interest,  and  read  it  to  the  meeting,  which 
would  usually  furnish  new  themes  for  re- 
mark. These  meetings  were  highly  inter- 
esting and  improving.  The  brotherly  at- 
tachment which  existed  within  this  circle, 
was  a  very  striking  feature  of  its  character. 
Commenced  in  youth,  it  seemed  to  strength- 
en in  every  bosom,  with  growing  years^ 
Some  of  the  members,  who  lived  within 
convenient  distance,  were  in  the  habit  of 
visiting  their  afflicted  brother  nearly  every 


REV.  PAUL  COTJCH:.  71 

day,  a  short  season  after  dinner.  Two  or 
more  frequently  thus  meeting,  prayer  usually 
followed.  When  any  one  returned  from  a 
journey,  or  one  residing  abroad  visited  the 
place,  one  of  the  first  things  was,  "  to  see 
brother  Couch."  Strangers  were  attracted 
to  his  chamber,  that  they  might  see  a  signal 
sufierer,  and  witness  the  supports  of  grace 
which  he  found  in  the  furnace  of  affliction  ; 
and  usually  they  went  away  impressed  and 
quickened  in  a  manner  favorable  to  their 
highest  interests. 

Besides  the  meetings  and  occasions  now 
mentioned,  others  of  a  more  formal  charac- 
ter were  frequently  had  in  the  same  place  : 
sometimes  prayer  meetings  for  Christians 
alone  ;  sometimes  others,  inclined,  being  ad-- 
mitted  with  them.  Of  these  meeticgs,  Mr. 
Couch  assumed  the  chief  management ;  read- 
ing, while  his  sight  was  continued  ;  leading 
in  prayer  often,  though  he  could  not  rise 
from  his  seat ;  and  leading  also  in  the  sing- 
ing, which  he  did  with  much  spirit  and  ani- 
mation. The  songs  of  Zion  were  no  small 
solace  to  him  in  his  trials,  and  his  sick  room 


72 


MEMOIR  OP 


was  one  of  praise,  as  well  as  pra5^er.  In 
general,  the  same  ardor  which  had  marked 
his  course  abroad  in  health,  now  appeared 
in  his  sick  chamber.  He  felt  himself  a  pub- 
lic man  still,  and  wished  to  carry  through, 
as  far  as  practicable,  the  duties  appropriate 
to  his  public  character.  Individuals  of  se- 
rious minds,  —  inquirers,  or  young  converts, 
—  often  visited  him,  to  converse  with  him 
about  points  that  troubled  them  ;  to  get  a 
solution  of  their  doubts,  a  clearing  up  of 
their  difficulties  ;  to  obtain  assistance  in 
finding  the  right  way,  or  in  walking  in  it 
safely  when  found.  He  was  faithful  and 
skilful  as  an  adviser.  And  many  were 
the  cases  in  which  benefit  was  obtained 
from  his  counsel.  The  burdened  went  away 
relieved  ;  the  wavering  confirmed.  From 
his  upper  room,  of  weakness  and  pain, 
strength  was  derived  for  the  duties  and 
trials  of  the  Christian  life  abroad. 

He  embraced  the  world  in  his  views  and 
desires.  He  sympathized  strongly  with  the 
suffering  and  needy  ;  and  often,  when  the 
case  of  such  was  related  to  him,  did  he  in- 


'    REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  73 

terest  himself  in  tlieir  behalf,  and  from 
some  of  his  more  able  friends  obtain  for 
them  the  desired  relief.  The  young  among 
his  own  relatives  received  much  of  his 
thought  and  care,  and  to  some  of  them  he 
was  particularly  beneficial.*  He  entered 
into  the  valuable  reforms  and  moral  enter- 
prises of  the  day.  He  was  a  friend  to  the 
temperance  cause.  He  sighed  over  the  op'- 
pressions  that  exist,  and  prayed  for  the 
emancipation  of  the  slave.  The  missionary 
cause,  which,  about  this  time  rising  into  no- 
tice in  the  country,  awakened  its  most  thril- 
ling thoughts,  lay  near  his  heart.  With 
those  thoughts  and  movements  he  sympa- 
thized most  fully.  During  no  small  part  of 
his  confinement,  he  had  charity-boxes  lor  the 
aid  of  missions,  and  education,  and  Bible 
and  tract  societies,  standing  in  his  room  ; 
and  considerable  sums  were  thus  collected 


*  A  promising  nephew  he  took  under  his  own  charge 
as  an  adopted  son ;  and  by  counsel,  and  other  means, 
aided  him  into  the  ministry.  He  is  now  filling  one  of 
the  important  posts  on  the  heights  of  Ziou. 


M  ilEMOIR  OF 

by  him,  from  his  numerous  visitors,  for  thes6 
benevolent  objects. 

In  a  letter  from  Mr.  Couch  to  Dr.  Woods, 
his  former  theological  teacher,  his  earnest 
Christian  spirit  shines  out  in  a  manner  strik- 
ingly characteristic.  A  part  of  this  letter 
the  reader  will  not  be  displeased  to  see. — 
» Newburyport,  Sept.  12,  1818.  My  Dear 
and  Rev.  Father  in  Christ : — Having  been 
very  ill  (with  a  cholera)  for  more  than  forty 
days,  I  am  now  pressed  with  gracious  obli- 
gation for  recovery,  insomuch  that  I  am  able 
to  address  a  line  to  you.  I  hope,  dear  sir, 
that  you,  and  all  dear  to  you,  are  in  good 
health,  and  enjoying  all  spiritual  blessings. 
The  blessed  news  from  Capt.  Paul  Titcomb, 
I  doubt  not,  has  gladdened  your  heart,  as  it 
has  the  hearts  of  many,  causing  them  to  leap 
for  joy.*  0  the  wonders  of  God's  marvel- 
lous love  to  a  dead  and  lost  world  !  God 
be  praised  for  the  rich  displays  of  his  un- 
speakable grace  in  saving  some  who  do  busi- 


*  Capt.  Titcomb,  on  an  India  voyage,  had  a  precions 
revival  of  religion  on  board  his  vessel. 


RET.  PAtJL  COtrCH.  75 

liess  upon  the  great  waters.  I  received  a 
letter  from  Calcutta,  dated  30tli  April,  1818, 
which  states  the  number  of  hopeful  converts 
to  be  seven,  and  all  the  other  part  of  the 
ship's  company  to  be  serious,  and  very  at- 
tentive to  reading  the  scriptures  and  good- 
books,,  and  to  religious  meetings.  0  let  U3 
give  glory  to  God  our  Savior  !  And  shall 
we  not  see  greater  things  than  these  ?  I 
believe  greater,  and  still  greater  things, 
would  have  been  wrought,  if  the  church  had 
been  full  in  her  expectation,  according  to  the 
fulness  of  the  promise  of  the  faithfulness  of 
God.  Has  he  not  said  to  Zion,  that  he  will 
fill  her  whole  desire,  regulated  by  his  word  ? 
And  can  we  ask  in  faith  what  we  do  not  ex- 
pect ? 

"  May  God  fill  and  greatly  bless  your  nur- 
sery of  young  men,  who  are  designed  to  be 
'  angels  of  the  churches,'  and  whose  pinions 
you,  under  him,  are  forming,  with  which  they 
are  to  'fly  through  the  midst  of  heaven,  hav- 
ing the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach  to  them' 
that  dwell  on  the  earth  ;'  and  whose  now 
tender  voices  you  are  preparing  for   '  that 


76  MEMOIR  OF 

blast  of  the  great  trumpet  which  shall  soon 
shake  the  seat  of  the  beast,  with  old  Satan, 
into  the  bottomless  pit !'  Give  them  that 
fulness  of  expectation  which  the  promises  of 
God  warrant  and  ought  to  inspire,  and  grant 
them  to  triumph  overall  opposition  !  And, 
my  dear  sir,  if  they  who  turn  many  to  right- 
eousness '  shall  shine  as  the  stars,'  what  shall 
they  resemble  who  prepare  those  very  stars 
to  shine  in  their  courses  ? 

"  As  my  nephew  has  a  vacation  of  a  week 
from  school,  I  remember  your  very  kind  in- 
vitation to  him  to  come  up  to  the  pleasant 
hill  ;  and  as  a  good  opportunity  offers  for 
him  to  go,  I  send  him  to  spend  a  few  days 
with  you  in  your  dear  family.  I  hope  it  will 
not  occasion  you  inconvenience.  I  am  very 
confident  that  this  visit  will  be  of  great 
benefit  to  him.  0  that  I  may  please  God, 
my  very  dear  sir,  to  bless  thee  to  Paul,  jr., 
as  he  has  blessed  thee  to  me,  who  am  less 
than  the  least  of  all  his  friends,  if  indeed  I 
am  in  any  degree  his  friend. 

"  Do,  dear  sir,  remember  me  in  your 
prayers,  and  forget  not  my  dear  boy. 

"  Yours  truly,  P.  Couch." 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  77 

I  may  insert  here  a  few  brief  notices  of 
his  sick  chamber,  from  other  hands,  enlarg- 
ing a  little  on  some  of  the  points  already 
stated.  The  following  is  from  a  friend,  a 
member  of  the  same  religious  society  with 
Mr.  Couch,  though  considerably  younger,  at 
that  time  serious  minded,  and  often  visiting 
Mr.  C.  for  his  spiritual  counsel  —  Rev.  Isaac 
Rogers,  of  Farmington,  Maine.  In  a  letter 
recently  received,  Mr.  Rogers  says  :  "  My 
recollections  of  Mr.  Couch  are  of  the  most 
interesting  character.  I  think  of  him,  as  he 
was  lying  on  that  bed  of  pain,  when  I  was 
a  young  man,  and  when,  evening  after  even- 
ing, I  used,  after  the  labors  of  the  day  were 
over,  to  call  in  to  see  him,  in  order  to  '  hear 
of  heaven  and  learn  the  way.'  For  at  that 
time  my  mind  was  deeply  concerned  in  re- 
ference to  its  state  before  God,  and  I  felt 
that  I  could  look  to  Mr.  C.  as  a  safe  spirit- 
ual counsellor.  And  I  can  truly  say,  that 
he  was  made  of  signal  benefit  to  me  ;  and 
that,  if  I  was  not  as  one  'new  born,'  I  was 
as  one  '  truly  nourished,'  in  that  sick  cham- 
ber :  where  this  good  man,  after  years  of 


78  MEMOIR  OF 

painful  suffering,  '  met  his  fate  ;'  and  whick 
was  emphatically  '  quite  on  the  verge  of 
heaven.'  It  was  an  antepast  often  of  that 
*  better  land/  to  hear  him  pray,  and  sing,  as 
well  as  converse  on  the  things  of  the  king- 
dom of  God.  Such  prayers  I  have  seldom 
heard,  as  those  that  flowed  from  his  heart. 
They  seemed  so  near  the  throne  of  grace  and 
glory,  and  brought  you  so  near  to  heavenly 
scenes,  that  you  would  love  to  linger  long 
under  the  blessed  sound.  Then  his  singing 
was  equally  striking.  Particularly  have  I 
often  heard  him  sing  that  hymn  of  Watts, 
<H.  13,  B.  3)  — 

*  How  sweet  and  awful  is  the  place 
With  Christ  within  the  door/  &c., 

to  the  old  tune  of  "  The  Feast,"  sometimes 
by  himself  alone,  and  sometimes  with  others 
joining,  in  strains  so  sweet  and  heavenly, 
that  even  now  the  recollection  does  not  fail 
to  thrill  my  soul.  He  had  such  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  Bible  and  of  systematic 
divinity,  that  it  was  *  a  feast  of  fat  things ' 
to  the  inquiring  mind  to  be  often  with  him 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  "79 

in  that  hallowed  and  consecrated  chamber. 
He  had  a  great  memory  —  comprehensive 
and  tenacious.  I  have  heard  him  repeat,  not 
only  hundreds  of  lines,  but  book  after  book, 
of  Young's  Night  Thoughts,  which  was  one 
of  his  favorites.  And,  in  fact,  whatever  he 
read,  or  heard  read,  he  remembered  in  a  re- 
markable degree  and  with  great  accuracy. 
He  also  was  possessed,  through  his  suffer- 
ings, of  a  strong  and  living  faith  in  all  the 
rich  promises  of  the  covenant  of  grace.  As 
an  illustration,  I  well  remember  his  confi- 
dent expressions  in  reference  to  his  nephew, 
and  namesake,  whom  he  had  adopted.  Be- 
fore his  conversion  to  Christ,  Mr.  Coucli 
was,  by  the  aid  of  friends,  helping  him  to  an 
education.  Said  he  to  me  one  day,  *  I  have 
given  him  up  to  God,  and  am  daily  praying 
for  his  conversion,  and  I  verily  believe  that 
it  will  take  place,  and  that  he  will  actually 
become  a  minister  of  Christ.'  And  this  is 
what  the  event  has  proved." 

Rev.  Mr.  Mitchell,  who  has  already  borne 
testimony  of  Mr.  Couch's  missionary  labors, 
.has  a  passage  in  relation  to  his  sick  cham- 


80  MEMOIR   OP 

ber,  in  wliicli  the  reader  will  feel  an  inter- 
est. "  When  a  member  of  the  Seminary  at 
Andover,"  says  Mr.  M.,  ''  I  yisited,  several 
times,  this  most  patient  and  cheerful  suffer- 
er. He  sat  there  in  his  easy  chair,  as  an 
oracle.  The  experienced  Christian,  in  sea- 
sons of  darkness  and  perplexity,  came  to  him 
for  advice.  The  anxious  inquirer  came  to 
him  to  ask  what  he  should  do  to  be  saved. 
The  student  in  theology  loved  to  hear  him 
explain  the  deep  mysteries  of  the  kingdom 

of  God.     I  called  once  with  Dr.  L ,  and 

at  another  time  with  my  beloved  classmate, 
Gallaudet ;  and  never  shall  I  forget  the 
manner  of  our  friend,  or  the  eagerness  and 
pleasure  with  which  we  listened  to  him,  as 
he  expounded  Bible  doctrines,  and  revealed 
to  us  the  experimental  knowledge  of  a  tried 
and  faithful  Christian.  I  think  of  him  now 
as  one  eminently  taught  in  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  '  apt  to  teach '  the  inquirer  after 
truth.  Though  deeply  sympathizing  with 
him  in  his  bonds  and  imprisonment,  which  he 
gained  by  his  zealous  devotion  to  the  ser- 
vice of  Christ,  I  love  to  think  of  his  cheer- 


REY.  PAUL  COUCH.  81 

ful,  animated  countenance,  shining  like  that 
of  Moses,  by  reason  of  his  familiar  inter- 
course with  heaven.'"' 

Mr.  Bayley  has  a  word,  on  the  point  now 
before  us,  in  keeping  with  the  above.  "  I 
saw  him  several  times  in  his  chamber,"  says 
Mr.  B.,  "  in  circumstances  very  trying,  but 
his  soul  was  not  bound.  He  was  pleasant, 
inquisitive  about  the  house  of  God,  and 
deeply  interested  in  the  religious  movements 
of  the  day,  in  which  he  was  well  posted." 
His  chamber  was  a  Bethel  :  and  these 
prayers  were  often  offered.  "  Happy  man, 
made  perfect  through  sufferings,  now  with 
his  Lord  !" 

In  the  autumn  of  1815,  the  second  com- 
pany of  missionaries  sent  forth  by  the  Amer- 
ican Board,  sailed  for  their  destination  in 
India,  from  Newburyport.  They  were  nine 
in  number,  —  Messrs.  Richards,  Poor,  Bard- 
well,  Meigs,  with  their  wives,  and  Edward 
Warren.  Some  days'  detention  of  the  ves- 
sel, beyond  its  appointed  time  for  sailing, 
gave  them  a  longer  stay  in  the  place  than 
they  had  expected.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed, 
6 


82  MEMOIR  OF 

that,  under  the  circumstances,  they  would 
fail  to  become  acquainted  with  a  Christian 
sufferer  such  as  Mr.  Couch.  They  found 
him  of  kindred  spirit  with  themselves  ;  often 
visited  him  ;  met  together  in  his  room  sev- 
eral times  for  prayer  ;  and  it  is  not  too  much 
to  believe  that,  from  his  sick  chamber  they 
derived  fresh  courage  and  strength  for  the 
great  work  before  them.  When  Dr.  Poor 
returned  to  this  country  on  a  visit,  in  1849, 
and  came  to  the  place  of  his  former  embark- 
ation, one  of  his  early  enquiries  was  in  re- 
gard to  Mr.  Couch  :  of  whom  he  retained 
lively  and  interested  recollections,  though 
the  lapse  of  time  had  been  thirty-four 
years.*  At  a  later  date,  another  of  this 
missionary  company!  ^i^s  given  his  recollec- 
tions of  Mr.  Couch,  in  a  manner  very  conso- 
nant with  the  things  stated  in  the  preceding 
pages  of  this  Memoir.  Referring  to  the  de- 
lay of  the  ship  in  sailing,  he  says  :  "  During 


♦  Mr.  C.  had  been  more  than  seven  years  in  his  grave, 
t  Rev.  Horatio  Bardwell,  D.  D.,  of  Oxford,  Mass. 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  8S 

these  days  of  detention,  the  missionaries  be- 
came acquainted  with  Mr,  Couch,  who  was 
then  confined  to  his  bed,  and  in  constant 
pain  night  and  day.  But  I  do  not  remem- 
ber that  he  ever  spoke  of  his  sufferings,  un- 
less in  reply  to  a  definite  question  on  the 
subject.  There  was  much  in  the  person  and 
character  of  Mr,  C.  that  was  suited  to  make 
a  deep  impression  on  the  mind  of  a  stranger. 
His  person  large  and  muscular" —  he  became 
afterwards  emaciated  —  "  his  features  pro- 
minent, manly  and  commanding,  his  mind 
vigorous  and  well  stored  with  Christian 
knowledge,  and  his  heart  earnestly  devoted 
to  right  things,  no  one  could  fail  to  see  in 
him  an  eminent  servant  of  God.  The  fea- 
tures of  his  piety  were  not  emotional,  but, 
like  the  stern  principles  of  his  theology, 
they  were  definite,  bold  and  uncompromising. 
Faith  in  God  was  distinguished  among  the 
Christian  graces,  as  they  appeared  in  him. 
It  was  by  this,  that  to  him  the  truths  reveal- 
ed and  the  things  hoped  for,  had  a  real  and 
living  existence,  and  bore  him  above  the  se- 
Tere  pains  of  the  body.  —  More  than  forty 


84  MEMOIR  OP 

years  have  passed,  and  yet  the  recollections 
of  those  hallowed  prayer-meetings  in  Mr. 
C/s  room,  are  fresh  in  my  mind.  I  seem 
now  to  see  his  manly  form,  sustained  by  pil- 
lows in  nearly  a  sitting  posture,  and  to  hear 
his  strong  utterances  of  faith  and  hope  in 
Israel's  God.  I  remember,  too,  with  what 
admiration  he  spoke  of  the  wisdom  and  the 
goodness  of  God  in  the  scheme  of  human 
redemption,  and  with  what  joy  (he  said)  he 
would  go  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  in  the 
service  of  Christ,  if  God  would  but  enable 
him  and  send  him.  —  No  one  scene  connect- 
ed with  the  trying  hour  of  our  departure 
was  more  suited  to  give  firmness  to  our  faith 
and  hope,  in  the  self-denials  and  toils  of  the 
missionary  work,  than  our  frequent  meet- 
ings for  conference  and  prayer  in  the  room 
of  this  servant  of  Christ." 


EEV.  PAUL  COUCH.  85 


CHAPTER  ^IX. 

"  For  we  are  made  partakers  of  Christ,  if  we  hold  the 
beginning  of  our  confidence  steadfast  unto  the  end."  — 
[Heb.  iii :  14. 

It  will  be  perceived,  from  the  foregoing 
chapters,  that  the  subject  of  this  brief  Me- 
moir was  fitted,  by  the  natural  elements  of 
his  character,  to  make  a  strong  impression 
on  the  minds  of  his  fellow  men.  Eyen  in 
early  youth  this  was  apparent.  He  was  ar- 
dent, impulsive,  and  controlling  among  his 
associates.  As  years  advanced,  and  in  his 
first  religious  experience,  and  in  the  short 
term  of  activity  he  was  permitted  to  enjoy, 
this  same  characteristic  continued  to  be 
strikingly  manifest.  And  even  when  the 
hand  of  suffering  was  laid  upon  him,  and 
for  near  forty  years  he  had  felt  its  pressure, 
still  the  great  energy  of  his  character  re- 
mained but  little  impaired. 

It  was  but  a  few  weeks  before  Mr.  Couches 


86>  MEMOIR     OF 

death,  that  decided  marks  of  mental  decay 
were  manifested  in  him.  Well  does  the 
writer  recollect  the  impression  made  on  him 
when  first  these  indications  appeared,  on 
entering  his  room.  It  cannot  be  said  that 
the  eye  had  lost  its  fire  ;  for  that  had  been 
all  but  quenched  for  many  years,  and  was 
DOW,  as  for  a  long  time,  guarded  by  screens 
and  green  spectacles.  But  still  the  power 
of  the  destroyer  was  showing  the  beginning 
of  his  work.  The  muscles  of  the  face  were 
i*elaxed.  The  motion  of  the  hand  was  feeble. 
The  tone  of  the  voice  indicated  lassitude. 
The  whole  air  and  manner  showed  an  in- 
cipient yielding  of  a  strong  constitution  and 
a  strong  mind,  under  the  long  continued  at- 
tacks that  had  been  made  Upon  them.  Must 
this  sufferer,  who  has  withstood  so  long,  and 
go  much,  and  seemed  triumphant  in  the  very 
jaws  of  the  devourer,  at  length  bow,  and 
submit  to  the  power  that  conquers  all  ?  The 
thought  was  sad.  Yet  to  the  sufferer,  such 
termination  would  be  gain.  He  was  pre- 
pared to  meet  it.  He  had  been  used  for 
Heaven's  glory,  and  would  be  still. 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  87 

it  may  have  been  expected  by  those  who 
knew  the  case,  that  this  great  sufferer  would 
die  in  a  manner  consonant  with  his  earnest 
character,  —  triumphing  visibly  over  the 
destroyer,  and  his  tongue  filled  with  raptur- 
ous praise.  But  so  divine  wisdom  had  not 
appointed  respecting  him.  He  had  borne 
his  testimony  before.  His  chamber,  for 
many  years,  had  been,  in  some  sense,  a  dy- 
ing chamber.  He  had  spoken  from  it,  as 
few  men  have  spoken  under  such  circum- 
stances. Was  any  thing  farther  needful,  to 
the  completeness  of  his  life  ?  Might  it  not 
close  here,  and  yet  be  left  a  luminous  life, 
for  the  benefit  of  those  who  had  witnessed  it, 
or  might  learn  of  it  ? 

One  can  hardly  fail  to  be  reminded  here, 
of  the  case  of  Whitefield.  The  anecdote  is 
related  in  the  Memoirs  of  Whitefield,  by  Dr, 
Gillies,  p.  218,  note.  Toward  the  close  of 
that  wonderful  man's  life,  as  he  was  on  a 
visit  to  Princeton,  N.  J.,  Dr.  Finley,  presi- 
dent of  the  college  there,  said  to  him  :  "  Mr. 
Whitefield,  I  hope  it  will  be  very  long  be- 
fore you  will  be  called  home,  but  when  that 


58  MEMOIR   OF 

event  shall  arrive,  I  should  be  glad  to  h6ar 
the  noble  testimony  you  will  bear  for  God." 
"You  would  be  disappointed,  doctor,"  said 
Whitefield,  "  I  shall  die  silent.  It  has 
pleased  God  to  enable  me  to  bear  so  many 
testimonies  for  him  during  my  life,  that  he 
will  require  none  from  me  when  I  die.  No, 
no,"  he  continued,  '•  it  is  your  dumb  Chris- 
tians, that  have  walked  in  fear  and  dark- 
ness, and  thereby  been  unable  to  bear  a 
testimony  for  God  during  their  lives,  that  he 
compels  to  speak  out  for  him  on  their  death 
beds."  Whitefield's  departure  was  as  he 
himself  had  said. 

And,  without  any  prediction  known,  so, 
substantially,  was  the  departure  of  Mr. 
Couch.  He  continued  gradually  to  sink, 
and  more  and  more  gradually,  till  death,  in 
a  very  few  days,  closed  the  scene.  An  in- 
visible, silent,  mysterious  power,  seemed  to 
envelop  him,  and  take  him  away.  He  died 
March  19th,  1842  :  aged  64. 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  89 


CHAPTER  X. 

"  The  eye  of  him  that  hath  seen  me,  shall  see  me  nb 
more."    Job,  vii :  8. 

Few  men  have  been  ordained  to  a  severer 
life-battle,  than  Mr.  Couch.  And  few  have 
met  their  appointed  lot,  more  worthily.  His 
sufferings,  indeed,  killed  him  ;  but  they  did 
not  conquer  him.  He  bore  manfully  the 
burden,  under  which  he  sank  to  rest.  He 
bore  it,  sustained  by  the  great  ideas  of  relig- 
ious truth,  which  he  cherished  ;  aided  and 
cheered  by  such  services  as  he  could  yet 
render  to  the  cause  of  Christ ;  and  we  may 
not  doubt,  upheld  by  the  special  presence 
and  grace  of  that  Almighty  Spirit  from 
whom  are  all  good  gifts. 

The  religion  of  Mr.  Couch,  it  will  be  seen, 
was  a  practical,  and  not  a  mere  theoretical 
religion.  All  along  through  life,  from  the 
brief  period  of  his  activity  to  the  close  of 


90  MEMOIR  OP 

his  protracted  and  painful  course,  he  ap- 
peared habitually,  the  man  of  prayer,the  man 
of  faith,  the  man  of  Christian  sympathies 
and  comprehensive  benevolence,  the  man  of 
ready  obedience.  He  shone  as  one  in  in 
whom  strong  elements  of  character  were 
controlled  by  the  power  of  grace. 

"  Behold  therefore  the  goodness  and  se- 
verity of  God,"  says  the  apostle  ;  which 
may  have  application  to  the  case  before  us, 
and  to  that  of  many  pious  sufferers.  In 
their  affliction  is  severity  ;  severity  that  ap- 
pears fearful.  God  appoints  them  great 
afflictions.  He  looks  steadily  and  unre- 
lentingly on  while  they  suffer.  He  perse- 
Teres  in  his  course.  He  lightens  not  his 
hand  for  their  tears.  He  alters  not  his 
purpose  for  their  groaning.  In  the  heavy, 
dark  night,  he  permits  them  to  see  no  light 
this  side  the  grave.  But  in  the  result,  there 
is  goodness.  The  sufferers  are  "  purified 
and  made  white."  The  last  moral  obliq- 
nities  are  wrought  out  of  their  souls.  The 
last  stains  arc  removed.  The  image  of  the 
Savior  within  them  is  rendered  complete. 


REV.  PAUL  coucff.  91: 

As  has  been  beautifully  sung  of  the 
"  Great  Refiner  :  ''* 

'Tis  good  to  think  how  well  he  knows 
The  silver's  power  to  bear 
The  ordeal  to  which  it  goes ; 
And  that,  with  skill  and  care, 
He'll  take  it  from  the  fire,  when  fit 
For  his  own  hand  to  polish  it, 

'  Tis  blessedness  to  know  that  he 
The  piece  he  has  begun 
Tf  ill  not  forsake,  till  he  can  see. 
To  prove  the  work  well  done, 
An  image,  by  its  brightness  shown. 
The  perfect  likeness  of  his  own. 

[Miss  H.  E.  Gould. 

These  stanzas  are  from  a  fine  piece  by  the 
hand  of  this  gifted  authoress ;  and  by 
permission,  they  are  quoted  here  with  the' 
greater  satisfaction,  as  the  piece  is  one 
which  Mr.  Couch  himself  often  read,  (or 
heard  read,)  and  admired,  and  with  which 
he  encouraged  himself  in  the  sharp  conflicts 
he  was  called  to  endure. 


*  Mai.  iii :  3.  "  He  shall  sit  as  a  refiaer  and  purifier  of 
iilver. 


»Z  MEMOIR  OF 

Although  Mr.  Couch  attracted  much  at- 
tention, he  was  not  emulous  of  human  ap- 
plause, and  least  of  all  desired  posthumous 
praise.  A  few  years  before  his  death,  he 
required  his  papers  to  be  brought  him  ; 
which,  after  he  had  examined  them,  he  com- 
mitted to  the  flames  ;  and,  at  the  same  time, 
gave  strict  injunction,  that  nothing  should 
be  written  of  him  after  his  decease.  His 
right  to  lay  an  inhibition  thus  on  the  use- 
fulness of  his  own  example,  may  certainly 
be  questioned.  What  the  grace  of  God  has 
wrought  in  a  man,  or  wrought  by  him  on 
others,  it  is  not  his  to  dispose  of,  in  such  a 
way  as  to  rob  God  of  the  praise.  The 
church  has  a  right  to  know  these  things,  for 
its  own  encouragement.  The  cause  of  Christ 
has  a  claim  for  their  due  manifestation.  And 
to  withhold  them  is  to  hide  the  light  "  under 
a  bushel,  or  under  a  bed,"  and  prevent  the 
good  effects  which  might  otherwise  be  real- 
ized ;  contrary  to  the  great  Master's  teach- 
ing. The  only  care  needful  is,  that  no  injus- 
tice be  done  ;  that  a  fair  picture  be  given.* 

*  Virgil,  the   great  Roman  poet,  is  a  case  in  point. 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH  93 

Another  thing,  perhaps,  should  be  men- 
tioned, to  the  praise  of  the  Divine  promise. 
Mr.  Couch  had  but  slender  means  to  meet 
such  a  life-scene  as  that  appointed  hira.  But 
through  the  ever -working  Providence,  which 
has  said  of  the  righteous, — "  bread  shall  be 
given  him  ;  his  waters  shall  be  sure  ; ''  "  no 
good  thing  will  be  withhold  from  them  that 
walk  uprightly  ; ''  friends  were  raised  up, 
as  the  occasion  required,  who  were  most 
ready,  and  seemed  to  feel  it  a  privilege,  to 
render  the  needful  aid.  They  took  upon 
them  cheerfully  the  burdens  of  this  suffer- 
ing servant  of  God,  and  *'  so  fulfilled   the 


"  It  is  -well  known  that  after  having  bestowed  the  labor 
of  twelve  years  on  his  immortal  poem  (the  ^-^aeid,)  the 
conviction  which  he  felt  of  its  imperfection  determined 
him,  in  his  last  moments,  to  order  it  to  be  committed  to 
the  flames;  and  it  was  only  by  a  breach  of  his  solemn  testa- 
mentary injunction,  that  this  work  has  been  preserved  for 
the  admiration  of  posterity."  ''The  Divine  Augustus 
forbade,  contrary  the  modesty  of  his  will,  that  the  songs 
of  Virgil  should  be  burned ;  so  that  it  happned  to  the- 
bard  that  he  received  greater  honor,  than  he  would  if  he 
had  himself  approved  his  own  songs."  Pliny,  lib.  yii.  ch. 
30.    Rosce's  Leo  X.  vol.  i.  p.  160. 


M  MEMOIR   OP 

law  of  Christ."  Strangers  also,  calling, 
.often  added  a  benefaction.  It  is  remarka- 
ble, that,  for  near  forty  years,  this  interest 
in  the  sufferer  should  not  have  tired,  nor 
these  streams  have  ceased  to  flow.  When 
one  fountain  was  closed,  another  was  opened 
to  supply  its  place. 

A  statement  of  this  matter,  for  a  single 
year,  from  Mr.  Couch  himself,  will  not  be 
out  of  place  here.  The  year  selected  is 
1810, —  of  which  the  account  is  the  fullest 
that  has  been  discovered.  It  begins  in  bus- 
iness style. 

"  PAUL  COUCH,  IN  ACCOUNT  WITH  THE  LORD's 

STEWARDS.  " 

Forty  different  dates  are  made  through 
the  year,  wiii  sums  annexed  of  live  dollars 
and  under,  amounting  in  all  to  eighty-three 
dollars  and  upwards  ;  besides  ninety  dol- 
lars alluded  to,  not  incladed  in  this  specific 
account. 

"  Thus  dear  Brethren,"  he  says,  "  you  see 
the  goodness  and  mercy  of  the  Lord,  and  of 
His  friends  in  me,  as  well  as  His  judgments. 
Surely  I  have  reason  to  sing  of  mercy  as 


EEV.  PAUL  COUCH.  95 

well  as  of  judgment.  Notwithstanding 
the  Lord  *  has  fed  me  with  the  bread  of 
tears,  and  given  me  tears  to  drink  in  great 
measure/  yet  I  have  reason  to  say,  '  0 
Lord,  Thou  hast  dealt  well  with  Thy  ser- 
vant.' '  I  will  praise  Thee,  0,  Lord.'  'And 
dear  brethren,  I  desire  to  tender  to  you  a//, 
but  more  particularly  to  those  whose  signa- 
tures are  above,  my  most  fervent  thanks  for 
your  attentions  and  kindnesses.  And  as  a 
,cup  of  cold  water,  given  with  gospel  mo- 
tives, will  meet  the  gospel  reward,  you  may 
rest  assured  that  your  kindness  to  me,  the 
meanest  of  all,  with  the  same  motives,  will 
meet  from  the  lips  of  our  common  Lord,  the 
blessed  award  recorded  in  the  25th  of  Mat- 
thew :  '  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto 
one  of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye 
have  done  it  unto  me.'  And  Oh !  that  this 
may  be  the  happy  case  of  us  all.  Amen. 
Yours,  P.  C." 
To  which  is  added  the  following  :  "  My 
brethren,  you  will  see  by  this  paper,  how 
much  our  common  Lord  has  given  me  from 
His  various  banks.    The  stewards  of  the 


96  MEMOIR  OF 

Lord  have  supplied  me  with  $83  10.  If 
you  add  $90  to  that,  you  will  see,  ( I  be- 
lieve), our  whole  expenditures  for  the  past 
year,  except  our  wood.  Our  family  has 
consisted  of  four;  and  you  know  we  have 
some  company.  I  will  assure  you  that  a  full 
thirtieth  of  all  our  income  has  been  devoted 
to  the  Lord.  I  wish  you  all  a  happy  new 
year,  and  the  constant  presence  of  Him 
who  dwells  in  the  bush.  P.  C."  Allud- 
ing, probably,  to  himself,  who  was  constant- 
ly in  the  fire,  and  was  yet  not  consumed. 

Mr.  Couch's  benefactors  have  most  of 
them  departed,  as  well  as  himself.  Some  of 
them  before  him,  and  some  of  them  after 
him  ; —  and  if  they  are  permitted  to  join 
each  other  now,  and  mingle  together  in  the 
service  and  worship  there,  as  they  delighted 
often  to  do  here,  they  must  constitute  a 
bright  company  in  the  spirit-land.  He  re- 
grets not  his  sufferings  now.  They  regret 
not  the  aid  they  gave  him,  in  bearing  his 
heavy  burdens. 


BEV.   PAUL   COUCH, 


CHAPTER   XI. 

"  Whose  faith  follow,  considering  the  end  of  their  con- 
versation ;  Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day, 
and  for  ever."    Heb.  xiii :  7,  8. 

Sufferers  may  receive  instruction  from 
the  example  of  Mr.  Couch,  as  to  the  man- 
ner in  which  they  should  regard  and  bear 
their  sufferings.  Few,  as  already  remarked, 
suffer,  as  he  suffered.  And  few  have  borne 
sufferings,  better  than  he  bore  them.  Some, 
indeed,  have  suffered  with  more  quietness  of 
spirit;  because  they  had  a  nature  more 
quiescent.  But  few  have  overcome  more  in 
themselves,  and  reduced  a  nature  all  strung 
for  vigorous  action,  to  more  unquestioning 
submission,  than  he. 

The  doctrine  of  suffering, — That  it  is  ap- 
pointed by  Infinite  wisdom  and  goodness, 
for  grand  purposes  of  public  utility,  as  well 
as  for  the  sufferer's  own  particular  benefit,  is 
the  true  doctrine.  This  sustained  him  ua- 
7 


'98  MEMOIR   OF 

der  his  great  burdens  ;  and,  truly  embraced, 
will  sustain  all  sufferers  in  equanimity  and 
peace.  It  fills  the  mind  with  great  ideas  ; 
it  gives  the  heart  sweet  trust  in  God.  And 
thus,  though  it  cannot  annihilate  pain,  yet  it 
can  soften  its  intensity ;  it  can  raise  the 
soul,  in  a  good  measure,  above  its  power  ; 
it  can  so  connect  the  sufferer  with  the  glory 
of  God,  and  with  the  results  of  suffering 
which  eternity  will  reveal,  that  he  will  now 
forget  himself,  and  the  ills  of  his  condition, 
in  the  ineffable  glories,  to  which  this  condi- 
tion itself  is  to  give  rise. 

Another  thing  sufferers  should  do.  Tliey 
should  keep  themselves  connected,  as  far  as 
practicable,  with  the  activities — the  benev- 
olent and  religious  activities — of  the  world 
around  them.  The  sufferer  who  most  goes 
out  of  himself ;  who,  as  his  circumstances 
allow,  enters  most  earnestly  into  the  gen- 
eral enterprises  of  Christian  usefulness,  is 
the  one  who  usually  best  bears  the  burdens 
laid  upon  him.  It  is  hard  to  suffer.  It  is  a 
more  difficult  calling  to  be  a  sufferer,  than  to 
&be  an  actor.    Yet  God  can  enable  his  people 


REV.  PAUL  COtTCH.  ^ 

to  suffer  rightly  when  he  calls  them  to  suffer; 
as  well  as  enable  them  to  act  rightl}^  when 
he  calls  them  to  act.  And  keeping  one's 
self  connected,  as  far  as  may  be,  with 
God's  great  scheme  of  things,  is  not  small 
among  the  means  by  which  He  accomplishes 
the  desirable  object. 

Sufferers  should  not  count  it  a  strange 
thing,  when  they  find  themselves  with  trials 
laid  upon  them.  The  economy  of  this  world 
requires  that  there  be  suffering,  and,  conse- 
quently, that  there  be  sufferers.  The  illus- 
trations of  truth  and  grace  accomplished  by 
suffering,  are  equally  as  important  as  those 
accomplished  by  action.  God  has  occa- 
sion for  sufferers,  as  well  as  for  actors.  "  I 
have  chosen  thee,"  He  says  to  some,  "  in 
the  furnace  of  afiliction."  And,  in  fact,, 
none  are  exempted. 

"  The  path  of  sorrow,  and  that  path  alone, 
Leads  to  the  land  where  sorrow  is  unknown  ; 
No  traveller  ever  reached  that  blessed  abode, 
Who  found  not  thorn  and  briers  in  his  road." 

The  cup  passes  around,  and  all  partake  of 


100  MEMOIR  OP 

its  contents,  some  more,  some  less.  And  so, 
what  with  the  benefit  accruing  to  sufierers, 
and  the  benefit  accruing  to  beholders,  the 
condition  of  the  world  is  improved.  "He 
chastens  us  for  our  profit,  that  we  may  be 
partakers  of  His  holiness."  He  chastens 
us,  that  our  graces  may  shine  to  His  praise, 
and  the  good  of  men,  in  the  scenes  of  afflic- 
tion. A  holy  example  of  suffering  illu- 
mines the  darkness  around  it ;  shows  the 
world  the  worth  of  godliness  ;  points  to 
God,  the  supporter  of  his  people,  and  to 
the  home  he  has  prepared  for  them,  when 
'their  earthly  scenes  are  closed. 

In  conclusion  ;  sufferers  should  encourage 
themselves  under  their  burdens  in  view  of 
the  recompense  promised  to  faithful  godly 
suffering,  in  the  future  life.  Of  right  action, 
the  scriptures  say,  "  Great  is  its  reward  in 
heaven."  Nor  less  can  be  the  reward  of 
right  suffering.  The  sufferer  shall  find  the 
fruits  of  it  in  his  own  character  for  ever,  ev- 
ery grace  shining  the  brighter  for  the  fiery 
scenes  through  which  he  has  passed.  "Our 
light  affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment, 


REV.  PAUL  COUCH.  lOl 

worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory."  He  shall  find 
the  fruits  of  it  in  the  benefits  his  bright  ex- 
ample has  been  the  means  of  imparting  to 
others,  the  whole  results  of  his  right  suffer- 
ing on  the  minds  of  those  who  have  wit- 
nessed it,  apixjaring  and  shining  around 
him  in  his  high  abode.  The  whole  grand 
impulse  which  his  course  has  produced  on 
creation  shall  be  there.  And  the  recom- 
penses of  such  are  declared  in  the  most  glow- 
ing terms.  "  These  are  they  which  came 
out  of  great  tribulation,  and  have  washed 
their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb.  Therefore  are  they  be- 
fore the  throne  of  God,  and  serve  him  day 
and  night  in  his  temple ;  and  he  that  sit- 
teth  on  the  throne  shall  dwell  among  them. 
They  shall  hunger  no  m.ore,  neither  thirst 
any  more  ;  neither  shall  the  sun  light  on 
them,  nor  any  heat.  For  the  Lamb  which 
is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  shall  feed 
them,  and  shall  lead  them  unto  livins:  foun- 
tains  of  waters  ;  and  God  shall  wipe  away 
all  tears  from  their  eyes."    So  shall  submis- 


102  MEMOIR  OP 

sive  godly  sufferers  be  recompensed,  by 
Him,  in  whose  honor,  and  in  imitation  of 
whose  example  they  have  suffered.  For  so 
his  own  Spirit  has  taught  us  to  say,  "  If  we 
be  dead  with  Him,  we  shall  also  live  with 
Him  ;  if  we  suffer,  we  shall  also  reign  with 
Him  f — *'  if  so  be  that  we  suffer  with  Him, 
that  we  may  be  also  glorified  together." 
Sufferers,  it  would  seem,  will  have  some  pe- 
culiar sympathy  witli  Ghrist,having  followed 
so  nearly  in  His  track,  and  some  peculiar 
sympathies  with  each  other,  having  been  sub- 
jected to  common  discipline  of  so  great  a 
severity.  And  th'e  whole  heavenly  state 
will  probably  be  enjoyed  by  them,  with  a 
richer  satisfaction,  a  higher  rapture,  for  the 
deep  seas  of  trial  from  which  they  emerged, 
in  gaining  their  blissful,  immortal  position. 
Apply  this  to  the  strong-minded  sufferer 
of  thirty-eight  years,  whose  case  we  have 
reviewed.  He  must  strike  the  golden  harp 
with  some  peculiar  rapture,  with  that  hand 
lately  so  tremulous  and  powerless.  He  must 
swell  the  notes  of  redeeming  love  with  some 
peculiar  ecstasy,  with  that  voice  lately  sink- 


REV.  PAUL   COUCH,  103 

ing  in  faint  whispers  amidst  the  swellings  of 
Jordan.  And  the  same  principle  holds  true 
of  others.  Apply  it  to  the  martyrs,  and  all 
signal  sufferers  of  all  time.  What  a  glori- 
ous company  they  must  constitute  before  the 
throne !  Wherefore,  sufferers,  faint  not. 
Bear  up  under  your  trials,  and  press  onward 
to  better  things.  God  has  better  things 
for  you,  if  you  suffer  rightly.  It  was  of 
times  of  suffering  that  that  was  spoken  : 

*'I  HEARD  A  VOICE  FROM  HEAVEN,  SAYING  UNTO 

ME,  Write,  blessed  are  the  dead  which 
DIE  IN  THE  Lord  from   henceforth  ;    yea, 

SAITH  the  SPIRIT,  THAT  THEY  MAY  REST  PROM 
THEIE  LABORS,  AND  THEIR  WORKS  DO  FOLLOW 

THEM."  God  puts  the  tears  of  His  people 
into  His  bottle.  Their  groans,  if  they  come 
up  from  pious  dispositions,  are  mere  regard- 
.ed  by  Him,  than  the  songs  of  angels.  In  all 
their  affliction.  He  is  afflicted  with  them. 
He  looks  on  them  in  their  struggles,  and 
says  :  "  In  your  patience  possess  ye  your 
SOULS."    "Behold,  I  come  quickly  ;  hold 

that  FAST  WHICH  THOU  HAST,  THAT  NO  MAN 
TAKE  THY  CROWN  !  " 


104  MEMOIE; 


"  What  are  these  in  bright  array  1 
This  innumerable  throng, 
Eound  the  altar,  night  and  day, 
Tuning  their  triumphant  song  1 

*  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  once  slain, 
Blessing,  honor,  glory,  power. 
Wisdom,  riches,  to  obtain, 
New  dominion  every  hour  !* 


"  These  through  fiery  trials  trod ; 
These  from  great  affliction  came  ; 
Now  before  the  throne  of  God, 
Sealed  with  His  eternal  name. 
Clad  in  raiment  pure  and  white, 
Victor  palms  in  every  hand 
Through  their  great  Redeemer's  might. 
More  than  conquerors  they  stand. 

"  Hunger,  thirst,  disease  unknown. 
On  immortal  piety  they  feed  ; 
Them  the  Lamb  amidst  the  throne. 
Shall  to  living  waters  lead. 
Joy  and  gladness  banish  sighs  ; 
Perfect  love  dispels  their  fears ; 
And  forever  from  their  eyes, 
God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears." 


a*  I N I  a 


